Method and apparatus for collecting and disseminating information over a computer network

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises at least one database for storing digital information associated with at least a first user and a second user, at least one links module for the first user and for the second user, at least one manipulations module and at least one display device for respectively displaying at least said linked digital information wherein said linked digital information associated with said first user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said second user when that information is manipulated, and wherein said linked digital information associated with said second user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said first user when that information is manipulated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/067,262, filed May 19, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/292,898, filed Nov. 28, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.7,966,369, which is a continuation-in-part of now-abandoned U.S.application Ser. No. 10/875,796, filed Jun. 25, 2004, which claimspriority to now-abandoned U.S. application Ser. No. 09/948,050, filedSep. 7, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/230,799, filedSep. 7, 2000. The disclosures of each of those applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forthherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of informationtechnology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a methodand apparatus for collecting and disseminating information in anorganized and systematic manner using one or more computer networks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's information driven world, ready access to reliable and timelyinformation is extremely important. The emergence of computer networksand their widespread use as information highways has made searching for,and delivery of, information much easier than in times past. Thewidespread use of e-mail for sending and receiving information over theInternet is evidence of the importance of the Internet as an informationhighway.

Most users of the Internet use the World Wide Web (hereinafter referredto as the “web”) to retrieve web pages that are hosted by particularservers on the Internet using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses anddomain naming conventions that are well known in the art. The popularityof the web and rapid advances in server technology and software, such asINTERNET EXPLORER and FIREFOX brand web browsers, have resulted in manyapplications being provided on Internet-based servers as enterprisesolutions for use by a great number of people rather than on astand-alone computer for use only by individual users. More importantly,information providers and information consumers are much more computersavvy today than in the past and often look to the Internet as asolution of choice for their information collection and disseminationneeds.

Consumers of goods and services (hereinafter referred to as “Buyers”)often rely on the Internet as an information resource to guide theirpurchase decisions at some point during the selection process.Increasingly, Buyers, especially more sophisticated Buyers, are turningto trusted advisors (referred to hereinafter as “Influencers”) to guidetheir purchase decisions. Influencers come in many forms, including thefollowing:

-   -   1. People: Reporters, Editors, Financial Analysts, Industry        Analysts, Associations/Forums, Regulatory Bodies, etc.;    -   2. Web-Based Media: Online Vertical Sites and Buyer's Guides        covering a specific industry or a broad spectrum of        technology-based products, Directories, Links Pages, FAQs,        Comparative Websites, and Search Engines; and    -   3. Other Media: Print Publications, such as magazines and        newspapers, Radio, and TV Shows, such as MSNBC, CNET TV, etc.

Influencers fill a critical role in helping consumers to betterunderstand product requirements and features and to move more quickly toa purchase decision. Influencers are the gatekeepers through which thesellers of goods and services (referred to hereinafter as “Sellers”)reach Buyers—whether buying optical telecommunications switchingequipment or cleaning fluids for contract office cleaners. Influencersare the indirect channels that influence the Buyers. Sellers must,therefore, establish strong relationships with the many Influencers whohave influence over their respective Buyers to successfully guide thoseBuyers to purchase the Seller's products and services.

Among the specific Influencer information that a buyer may utilize inmaking purchase decision is information provided in the following forms:

-   -   4. Web Content Publishers: Vertical Websites/Portals, Comparison        Sites, Search Engines, Discussion Groups, FAQs, and Links Pages;    -   5. Print Publications: Buyer's Guides and Directories;    -   6. Analysts: Industry Analyst and Financial Analyst Reports;    -   7. Industry Associations/Forums/Regulatory Bodies: Industry        Standards/Trends, Membership Directories, Members Listed by        Product/Services Categorizations, and Industry Statistics; and    -   8. Other Media: Radio/Web Broadcasts and TV/Web Broadcasts.        Buyers making purchasing decisions, however, are not the only        parties that rely on such forms of information. Sellers and        Influencers also must rely on those forms of information.

For example, those within a particular industry who are tasked withfollowing and/or reporting on industry developments, such as reportersor analysts, i.e., Influencers, must have ready and rapid access toindustry news and trends. And, those within a particular industry whoare tasked with keeping industry followers informed, such as companysales and marketing departments, i.e., Sellers, are equally motivated toget their message out. The resulting challenge is that of achieving theobjectives of Influencers, Buyers, and Sellers as efficiently andeffectively as possible.

Although the Internet's phenomenal success has brought a wealth ofoptions to users' computer screens, allowing users to research andlocate products and services that best fit the users' needs and wants,so many options now exist that searching for information on the Internetcan easily become a daunting task because relevant information often isdifficult to find, conflicting, incomplete, or simply missing. Thenovice user can easily become overwhelmed trying to discern who has whatinformation and how the information may best be obtained. Accordingly,the Internet does not always allow those having information to sharewith a reliable method of reaching their intended audience.

Accordingly, there is a great need in the art for a method and apparatusfor collecting and disseminating information in an organized andsystematic manner for information providers and information consumers.This need in the art extends to work flow and coordination paths for theexecution and processing of legal documents, i.e., nondisclosureagreements, multi-party leases, rental and sales contracts and the like;arranging of meetings and appointments; coordinating contests andproduct reviews; and all other activities involving two or more partieswhere the rapid and reliable flow of information between parties isimportant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantagesand to provide at least the advantages described below, a non-limitingobject of the present invention is to provide a device of and method fordevice of and method for collecting and disseminating information overat least one computer network, the apparatus comprising at least onedatabase for storing digital information associated with at least afirst user and a second user, at least one links module for the firstuser to link to at least a portion of said digital informationassociated with said second user and for the second user to link to atleast a portion of said digital information associated with said firstuser, at least one manipulations module for manipulating said digitalinformation stored in said at least one database, and at least onedisplay device associated with each of the at least first user andsecond user for respectively displaying at least said linked digitalinformation to each of said at least first user and second user, whereinsaid linked digital information associated with said first user isautomatically updated on at least said display device of said seconduser when that information is manipulated, and wherein said linkeddigital information associated with said second user is automaticallyupdated on at least said display device of said first user when thatinformation is manipulated.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of theintended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent whenreference is made to the following description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a non-limiting exemplaryembodiment of a network structure utilized to implement thefunctionalities of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the transfer of data through anon-limiting exemplary embodiment of a layered architecture employed bythe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the transfer of data through anon-limiting exemplary embodiment of the layered architecture employedby the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a non-limiting exemplaryembodiment of the synchronization of data according the presentinvention.

FIGS. 5A-5C are flow charts illustrating a non-limiting embodiment of aworkflow process employed by a Media Credentialing Module of the presentinvention; and

Attention is also called to the Computer Program Listing Appendix thatis incorporated by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to non-limiting embodiments of thepresent invention by way of reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, components andstructures.

Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating acomputer Network 100 that can be used as the means to implement thepresent invention over the Internet. The Network 100 illustrated in FIG.1 is generally represented by a network cloud with a plurality ofconnected Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 102. Each ISP 102 serves asthe entry point for users of the Internet. Connected to the ISPs 102,the Network 100 includes Computer Work Stations 104, Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs) 106, Facsimile Machines 108, Cellular Telephones 110,and GPS Systems 112 for sending and receiving information across theInternet. Internet users may also use any one of numerous other devicesto send and receive information across the Internet.

Central to the Network 100 of the present invention is at least oneServer 114, at least one Database 116, and at least one Router 118 thatare responsible for collecting, storing, and disseminating informationacross the Network 100 to the various users. The Server(s) 114 executesthe applications, or routines, of the present invention and control thevarious functionality of the present invention. The Database(s) 116stores digital information, or data, in a structured manner formodification and retrieval by the Server(s) 114 and Router(s) 118. TheRouter(s) 118 carries out the various functionality of the presentinvention by performing switching and routing functions that direct usercommands to the Server(s) 114 and cause information to flow betweenusers across the Network 100 in accordance with the routines of thepresent invention.

As FIG. 2 illustrates, the present invention utilizes a tiered, orlayered, Structure 200 to logically separate the various functionalityperformed by the present invention. The Tiered Structure 200 includes aData Layer 202, a Business Logic Layer 204, and a Presentation Layer206. The Data Layer 202 stores data on the Database(s) 114 for use bythe other layers. The Business Logic Layer 204 contains thedecision-making and data-processing routines that are executed andcarried out by the Server(s) 114 and Router(s) 118, thereby performingthe various functionalities of the present invention. And, thePresentation Layer 206 is the user interface for the application bywhich users are able to utilize the various functionalities of thepresent invention.

Each layer 202, 204, and 206 is internally self contained andindependent of each other layer with data being automaticallytransferred between each layer in accordance with predeterminedprotocols. Each layer 202, 204, and 206 includes a plurality of routinesthat perform the functions associated with that layer. By keeping thelayers independent of each other, the routines performed by each layer202, 204, and 206 can operate independently of each other layer, whichprovides maximum flexibility to use a wide variety of data with a widevariety of routines. Accordingly, an infinite variety of data types maybe utilized by the present invention as more and more varied formsproduct and service information are incorporated and as the scope andforms of usage of that information expands.

The Data Layer 202 includes multiple forms of Meta Data for classifyingand cataloguing the Core Data stored therein. A key to the flexibilityof the present invention is that every unit of Core Data stored in theData Layer 202 can include a wide variety Meta Data attached to it. Eachform of Meta Data can support a different routine, or application,accessing the Core Data. By providing different forms of Meta Data foreach data field, e.g., product/service/company, the present inventionprovides the functionalities for the expansion of the Meta Data tosupport new routines as the scope and usage of the present inventionexpands. The Data Layer 202 can store product/service data, organizationand personnel information, contact information, personal preferenceinformation, event information, messages and communications, news,images and just about every other conceivable type of digitalinformation. Because of the multiple forms of Meta Data for each unit ofCore Data, the core data can be more efficiently located and utilized bythe various functionalities of the present invention. The Data Layer 202also includes a public directory of data that is optimized to be“scraped” by public search engines, such as the GOOGLE and YAHOO! Brandsearch engines.

The Business Logic Layer 204 includes a retriever engine, a submitterengine, a search engine, a workflow engine, a presentation engine, anotification engine, a forms engine, a messaging engine, animport/export engine, a spider engine, and a payment engine that eachinclude decision-making and data-processing routines that execute andcarry out the various functionalities of the present invention. Theretriever engine retrieves data from the Data Layer 202 that isrequested by a user at the Presentation Layer 206. The submitter enginesubmits user commands from the Presentation Layer 206 for processing bythe Business Logic Layer 204. The search engine searches the Data Layer202 in response to user commands from the Presentation Layer 206. Theworkflow engine organizes the flow of data in and through the BusinessLogic Layer 204. The presentation engine facilitates the communicationof data with the Presentation Layer 206. The notification engine sendsnotifications, alerts, and messages to users at the Presentation Layer202 or via substantially any other suitable means, such as e-mail, voicemail, fax, paging, Instant Messaging (IM), Short Message Service (SMS),Really Simple Syndication (RSS), or Ambient Device Orb. The forms enginegenerates forms for use in the Presentation Layer 206. The messagingengine generates messages for users, processes outgoing messagesgenerated by users, and processes incoming messages generated by users.The import/export engine imports and exports data into and out of theData Layer 202. The spider engine fetches, analyzes and tracks dataoutside of the Data Layer 202, such as web sites or databases foundelsewhere on the Internet, by periodically monitor a that data andreport any changes in its content. And, the payment engine facilitatesthe entire capture-to-cash cycle for e-commerce within the presentinvention by automating payment collection, processing, and managementover the Network 100.

The Presentation Layer 206 gathers and displays information to users invisual form on various customizable workspaces, or pages, that providethe users with access to and control over the various functionalities ofthe present invention. The Presentation Layer 206 includes an InternalSection, an Administration Section, an Organization Section, a PeopleSection, a Search Section, a Content Section, a Workflow Section, aSuggestions Section, a Setup Section, a Tools Section, a MyGatewaySection, and a Support Section. Each of those sections is describedseparately in more detail below with respect to each of the modules thatprovide the functionalities of each section.

The various engines of the Business Logic Layer 204 work together toautomatically drive data back and forth between users who are “linked”to that data. Data is linked based on its Meta Data, which supports thefunctionality for the various routines in the business logic layer thatlocate that data in the Data Layer 202. Within the architecture of thepresent invention, data is automatically linked with the Data Layer 202when it is used in a user's Presentation Layer 206. Thus, whenever thesubject data is changed at the Data Layer 202, those changes will beinstantaneously transferred to the Presentation Layer 206. For example,if a first user populates a categorized list of people from theDatabase(s) 116 based on their job descriptions, and a second userchanges one of those people's job description in the Database(s) 116,the list will be updated automatically at the Presentation Layer 206.See, e.g., the My Contacts Module, discussed below.

The present invention also provides a rich architecture of web-basedapplications for inputting, accessing, comparing, sharing, challenging,hosting and researching information across the Internet. To exchangedata across the Internet as described, the present invention includes avariety of supporting applications, such as various ApplicationProgramming Interfaces (APIs), pre-coded routines and hostedenvironments. Thus, as FIG. 3 illustrates, the Business Logic Layer 204not only drives data back and forth between the Data Layer 202 and thePresentation Layer 204, but also between the Data Layer 202 and otherlocations on the Internet. And, as FIG. 3 also illustrates, the varioussections of the Presentation Layer 206 can be used to drive data backand forth between the Presentation Layer 204 and other locations on theInternet. Accordingly, the present invention provides a “Gateway” forready access to information and information sources and for coordinatingthe flow of that information back and forth between multiple partiesthroughout a computer Network 100 and across the Internet. The Gatewaymay be hosted on the Network 100 by a service provider, i.e., a GatewayProvider.

As FIG. 4 illustrates, the Gateway of the present invention facilitatesthe back and forth flow of data by interfacing with both people (HumanInterface) and computer systems (Machine Interface). The Gateway cansend and receive data to and from a user's web browser, e-mail, IM,mobile device, and voice mail on a regular basis, thus ensuring that theuser's information is always as up-to-date possible. As also illustratedin FIG. 4, the Gateway can send and receive data to and from a computersystem via XML, HTML, FTP and other web service formats. One of themeans the Gateway utilizes to achieve such a flow of data is a publiclyaccessible Meta-Data-driven RSS feed (hereinafter referred to as “theGateway's wire service”)

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention describedhereinafter, a number exemplary sections, modules and widgets within theGateway are described in accordance with the manner they may be utilizedby Influencers, Sellers, and Buyers. Sections are utilized by each userto customize his/her respective Workspace(s) on the Presentation Layer206 and to interact with the various modules and widgets of the Gateway.Modules are pre-coded routines that carry out the functionalities ofparticular layers 202, 204, or 206 of the Gateway or carry out integralfunctions that underlie the functionality of the entire Gateway. And,widgets are small windows that may be used to provide key statistics andactivity updates on the Presentation Layer 206 for each of the majormodules in the Gateway. It should be understood that the functionalityand utility of the Gateway is not dependent on the presence of all ofthe sections, modules, or widgets described hereinafter. Differentsections, modules, and widgets may be added and the sections, modules,and widgets described hereinafter may be added and deleted withouttaking away from the spirit of the invention.

Foundational Modules

The Gateway also includes a number of integral functions that underlieall of the other modules and functionality of the Gateway. Thoseintegral functions are carried out by a few foundational modules thatoperate throughout the entire Gateway. Those foundational modulesinclude a Notifications Module, an Alerts Module, a Messaging Module, aWeb Conferencing Module, an Audio Conferencing Module, and a ClientAliasing Module. Each of those modules helps support the fundamentalpurpose of the Gateway of the present invention—to provide functionalitythat constantly builds direct relationships between people andorganizations by facilitating the accurate and continuous flow ofinformation therebetween.

Gateway users often do not know where they will be at any particulartime, but editorial and marketing requirements are round-the-clock.Thus, extensive notification capability is needed in order to keepGateway users informed. To better facilitate the flow of informationbetween parties, the Gateway includes an extensive notifications andalerts system that is controlled by the Gateway's centralizedNotifications Module and Alerts Module. Both the Notifications Moduleand the Alerts Module provide functionality to send users notificationsand alerts via substantially any suitable means, such as e-mail, voicemail, fax, paging, IM, SMS, RSS, or Ambient Device Orb. An AmbientDevice Orb is a device that changes color, or some other physicalcharacteristic, as a means of conveying intelligent information.

The Notifications Module provides users with information concerning thestatus of tasks that user is working on, such as the closing of theapplications submissions period (Step 10) in the Media CredentialingModule. The Notifications Module creates actionable hyperlinks that,when clicked upon, take a user directly to the place where the userneeds to work within a task. The Notifications Module also providesfunctionality for users to designate which notifications they wish toreceive and the means by which those notifications are received.

The Alerts Module is content-oriented rather than task-oriented. TheAlerts Module provides users with information concerning data-relatedevents within the Gateway, such as an organization changing the role ofcertain personnel to which the user is linked in the OrganizationalContacts Module. Thus, not only will data automatically flow through theGateway and be updated wherever it is linked when that data is changedin the Gateway, users can also be alerted of such updates. The AlertsModule also provides functionality for users to designate which alertsthey wish to receive and the means by which those alerts are received.Gateway Provider Administrators maintain all system alerts within theAlerts Module and can create new alerts using various system parametersthat tie the alerts to data-related events that occur in the Gateway.

The Messaging Module provides users with basic e-mail functionalitiesthat enable users to send and receive e-mails to a “Gateway Inbox,”i.e., users are provided with a Gateway e-mail account.

The Web Conferencing Module provides functionality for users to sharecomputer workstation screens, chat, take and share notes, viewparticipant lists and other standard web conferencing capabilities,similar to such services as WEBEX, PLACEWARE, and RAINDANCE brand webconferencing services. The Web Conferencing Module utilizes all of thefunctionalities of the Gateway, enabling the immediate sharing of anypage or data within the Gateway via the various forms of notifications,alerts, and messages generated by the other foundational modules, bothwithin the Gateway and throughout the Internet. The Web ConferencingModule provides functionality for either point-to-point web conferencingbetween two parties or multi-point web conferencing between a largernumber of parties.

The Audio Conferencing Module provides functionality for direct orconference calls between parties. Audio functionality is provided eithervia voice over IP or by direct dial bridging. The Audio ConferencingModule can be utilized with the Web Conferencing Module to provide anadditional layer of communication to web conferencing. An exemplary useof the integrated voice/data/video technology of the Web ConferencingModule and the Audio Conferencing Module would be for a Seller to give aproduct briefing to a group of Influencers or for a product manager anda Public Relations (PR) firm to share a screen to discuss an entry in aBuyer's Guide.

The Aliasing Module provides the functionality for the Gateway Providerto assume the access rights and system view of a particular user,without specifically having to log in as that user. When a GatewayProvider Administrator user aliases another user in this manner, theparty who is aliasing the user can access data in the Gateway to theextent the aliased user has been granted access to that data.

Internal Section

The Internal Section of the Gateway is only accessible to GatewayProvider Administrators. The Internal Section provides key support andinformation processing tools that enable Gateway programmers and supportpersonnel to track and support customers. The Internal Section alsoenables Gateway Providers to track their sales prospects, theirimplementations, and their entire development stack of tasks. Forexample, the Gateway Provider can access and view outstanding tasks tobe developed, and generate reports that summarize the Gateway accountsthat a Gateway Provider Administrator is managing via the InternalSection. The modules that provide such include a Gateway SecurityModule, a Gateway Tasks Module, a Gateway Reports Module, a GatewayIdentities Module, a Gateway Processing Module, a Gateway Press ReleasesModule, a Gateway Form Editor Module, a Gateway People AdministrationModule, an Gateway Organization Administration Module, a GatewayMaintenance Module, and a Gateway Help Editor Module.

The Gateway Security Module provides Gateway Provider Administratorswith functionality to edit any user access rights to any module in thesystem. The Gateway Security Module provides access by groups of modulesso access levels can be easily changed by a selection pull down menu.And, if necessary, Gateway Provider Administrators can also view andchange users' IDs and passwords in the Gateway Security Module. Allaccess rights to modules as governed by a user's subscription plan withthe Gateway Provider are also managed in this module.

The Gateway Status Module provides functionality for Gateway ProviderAdministrators to view any problems that may exist in various other usermodules of the Gateway, such as whether the retrievers that are beingrun for users have failed, or if the backend spiders that feed themcontent are running properly. The Status Module also provides a statusof all outside feeds, such as transfers of information via FTP to otherhosts. The Status Module also provides functionality for a GatewayProvider Administrator to view the status of all Alerts being sent bythe system to make sure that there are no backlogs or other issues withthose important communications.

The Gateway Tasks Module provides the Gateway's main programmerinterface with the Gateway where programmers are assigned tasks. Allactive programming tasks are listed, prioritized, and applied status inthis module. Only members of the Gateway Provider's programming andoperations staffs are given access to the Gateway Tasks Module. Allcustomer bug and feature requests flow through this module. The GatewayProvider Administrator can create reports to track developed work versusnew requirements and create listings on the fly of tasks by status,project, category, programmer, priority, last update, and other keyvariables. The task lists and reports are fully searchable within theGateway Tasks Module as well. Each programmer has access to his own MyTasks page to view all pertinent tasks that are commented to orotherwise actioned to the programmer, as well as projects and tasks thatthe programmer is tracking.

The Gateway Reports Module provides a Gateway Provider Administratorwith key overview reports on every aspect of Gateway activity. TheGateway Reports Module provides access to a series of reports thatinclude information about the pace of development, the health of thevarious servers and systems in Gateway, the movement of new usersthrough the startup processes, user access history, activity within thesystem, and other such important items. Reports may be added or modifiedbased on user feedback and information requirements. And, saved versionsof commonly run report settings may be quickly re-run so GatewayProvider Administrators do not have to reconfigure various parameters tomatch their intended output. All Gateway system reports are accessiblethrough the Gateway Reports Module, and in some cases, within othercontext-specific modules as well.

The Gateway Identities Module provides functionality for a GatewayProvider Administrator to assume a generic role as an internal employeeof an organization on the Gateway, seeing whatever the basic level ofemployee at that organization is allowed to see. The Gateway IdentitiesModule is used by the Gateway Provider to provide support for customersto see what the average customer sees on the Gateway. If the GatewayProvider Administrator wishes to see what a specific individual usersees on the Gateway, then the Gateway Provider Administrator would notuse this feature, but rather would use the Internal/Security Module tolook up the specific user in question and log in as that user.

The Gateway Data Sources Module provides functionality for GatewayProvider Administrators to view the current data sources and spiders inthe Gateway. The Data Sources Module also provides functionality for aGateway Provider Administrators to define, develop and implement newdata sources and to define, develop, and implement rules to monitor andflag spiders that are not working properly, which enables GatewayProvider Administrators to take a pro-active approach to regularauditing of spiders.

The Gateway Processing Module provides functionality for the GatewayProvider's processing staff to process information from the Internet andvarious outside databases prior to storing that data on the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116, including data retrieved from the ElectronicData-Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. The ProcessingModule also provides functionality for Gateway Provider processing staffto review and otherwise maintain the Gateway's Database(s) 116 viarules-driven processing jobs, such as programming code that is scheduledto run frequently and look for problematic data in the Gateway, e.g., tolook for instances in the company profiles in the Gateway's Database(s)116 where the country code in the phone number field for a record doesnot match the country code of the country listed in the physical addressfield of the record. The Gateway Processing Module shows a user anysimilar data, such as companies with the same name, so the user canselectively process the data to avoid the entry of duplicate recordsinto the Gateway's Database(s) 116. The Gateway Processing Module allowsthe user to assign data to certain categories of content, such asCompanies, People, Products, Events, and Publications. By categorizingthe data for storage in this manner, i.e., assigning Meta Data to CoreData, the processed data is more easily utilized by the manyfunctionalities of the Gateway. Suggestions from the Suggestions Sectionmay be processed into the Gateway's Database(s) 116 via the GatewayProcessing Module.

The Gateway Press Releases Module is a specialized parsing andprocessing module that is provided to evaluate press releases and eventslistings from various public sources and to sort the data within thelistings into those pieces of information desired by the Gateway. Thedata is manually processed by Gateway Provider processing staff, whoevaluate data presented on a screen as being parsed correctly, e.g.,putting PR representative names in the right boxes and capturing theright relationships among the parties represented in the press release.This module provides functionality for new industries to be added to theGateway as it provides the system with data about organizations activein marketing, their internal and external PR representatives, andbackground information on key organizations. That data is split out andprocessed into the Gateway's Database(s) 116 for later updating andapproval by the organizations as they are asked to enter the system, forexample, by Influencers via the Suggest-A-Company Module.

The Gateway Form Editor Module provides functionality for all pageswithin Gateway to be created, edited, and updated. The Gateway FormEditor Module provides functionality for defining how form pages arelaid out, how data is accepted and validated by the Gateway, how Help isaccessed by users, and other key structural handling of information inthe Gateway. The Gateway Form Editor Module can be accessed only byGateway Provider Administrators via the Internal Section of thePresentation Layer 206.

The Gateway People Administration Module provides functionality forGateway Provider Administrators to access and edit users' PersonalProfile records, including the ability to merge duplicate people recordsinto one record. Via the Gateway People Administration Module, GatewayProvider Administrators can view and edit the profile information abouta specific user, including the roles that user is assigned. GatewayProvider Administrators can also add new roles for users in this module,such as making a user within an organization responsible for thatorganization's public relations activities.

The Gateway Organization Administration Module provides functionalityfor Gateway Provider Administrators to access and edit organizations'records, including the ability to merge duplicate organization recordsinto one record. The Gateway Provider Administrator can view and editorganizational profile information, including the roles thatorganization is assigned. Via the Gateway Organization AdministrationModule, Gateway Provider Administrators can add new roles for users,such as making a user within an organization responsible for thatorganization's public relations activities. The Gateway OrganizationAdministration Module also provides functionality for Gateway ProviderAdministrators to view background profile information, appropriateindustry identifications, e.g., their DUNN's brand ID, the presentcontacts and users in the Gateway listed under that organization, logosfor the organization, stock trading information for public companies,listed directories in which the organization is listed, and other suchpertinent information. Gateway Provider Administrators can change any ofthat data to better reflect an organization in the Gateway's Database(s)116.

The Gateway Maintenance Module provides functionality for GatewayProvider Administrators to directly monitor, edit, and maintain everytype of data in the Gateway's Database(s) 116, such as organizations'records and profiles, individual users' records and profiles, productrecords, event records, white paper records, etc. Accordingly, theGateway Maintenance Module provides centralized data managementfunctionality by providing a single place to maintain data, whichcomplements the Gateway Processing Module and the Gateway Data SourcesModule—both of which are designed to import and track data for theGateway.

The Gateway Help Editor Module provides Gateway Provider Administratorswith functionality to quickly update the Help text on any page in theGateway. For example, if the Gateway Provider's customer servicedepartment notices that a particular page is misunderstood by someusers, the Help text can be immediately edited in real-time using theGateway Help Editor Module.

Administration Section

The Administration Section of the Gateway is used by Gateway AccountAdministrators, i.e., the administrators within an organization managingthat organization's Gateway account, and the users to which they provideaccess, e.g., an organization's administrator in charge of managing someof the more technical and sensitive areas of Gateway's functionality. Anorganization's level of access to the more technical and sensitive areasof the Gateway's functionality is determined by that organization'saccount level with the Gateway Provider. All security and accessprivileges are set in the Administration Section, as well as allsettings and permissions for data feeds and direct website access. Forexample, an organization's administrator can set the access andprivilege rights to give the Gateway access to transfer data directly tothat organization's websites outside of the Gateway. The modules thatprovide such functionality include an Organizational Status Module, anExternal Hosts Module, a Data Schedules Module, a Presentations Module,a Web Sites Module, a Newsletters Administration Module, a SPAM BacklistChecker Module, an Access/Security Module, a Reports Module, a ToolbarsModule, and an Accounts Module.

The Organization Status Module provides functionality for a user tochange the status of an organization under the account for situationssuch as mergers, acquisitions, name changes, etc. Any such changesautomatically flow through all of the locations that the organization'sdata is used in the Gateway. For example, when an organization'sadministrator uses this module to process major corporate changes, suchas merging with another company, being acquired by another company,acquiring another company, changing company name, declaring bankruptcy,or going out of business, that change will automatically cause theorganization's status to be updated and changed on all user-createdlists on the Gateway that include that organization. The OrganizationStatus Module also provides functionality to maintain the organization'sproper relationship to other organizations, e.g., a parent/childrelationship, and to related records within the Gateway's Database(s)116.

The External Hosts Module of the Gateway provides functionality forusers to set up an authenticated FTP relationship between the Server(s)114 on the Gateway and a secure area on a user's servers outside of theGateway. Such external servers also include “Payment Gateways” that letusers set up an e-commerce path so that the Gateway can collect paymentson behalf of a user's organization. Because those servers exist outsideof the architecture of the Gateway, an authenticated FTP relationshipmust often be established before linking data on the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116 to those secured areas. This functionality is most oftenutilized by users who wish to drive automated content from the Gatewayto their own websites, using information derived from content stored onthe Gateway's Database(s) 116, e.g., online directories, buyer's guides,surveys, etc. Users with websites can enter one or more user ID andpassword in the External Hosts Module to give the Gateway access totransfer data to a secure part of those websites with an engine such asthe Gateway's import/export engine. The External Hosts Module can beused, for example, with the Awards Module to facilitate the collectionof a payment for submission of a nomination to an award organizer withinthe workflow of that module.

The Data Schedules Module provides functionality for a user to set upschedules to move linked information from the Gateway's Database(s) 116to a user's servers outside of the Gateway. Because those servers existoutside of the architecture of the Gateway, those servers may notinclude routines that can properly process the data in the format thatit is stored within the Gateway. The Data Schedules Module defines whatinformation to move, when to move it, and where to send it. The DataSchedules Module can export data in a number of formats, such as XML,Access, XLS, and text. That information can include web pages created,for example, by the Presentations Module, or large amounts of storeddata created by one of the content-driven Modules, such as the Buyer'sGuides Module. A user can also use the Data Feeds Module to set up datatransfers to occur on a scheduled or on-demand basis. For example, auser can schedule data transfers to occur to his/her server as often asevery 30 seconds or as seldom as once weekly. Or, the user canimmediately drive data to his/her server without waiting for a scheduledevent to occur.

The Presentations Module provides functionality for users to create andedit web pages containing information from the Gateway and then publishthose pages to a website. For example, a user can publish directories,buyer's guides, survey results, organization profiles, news, pressreleases, white papers, events, glossaries, FAQ pages, links, and otherGateway information to the user's web page. The Presentations Moduleprovides the user with pre-defined templates to easily create web pages.In the alternative, the Presentations Module provides functionality forthe user to create new templates or modify existing templates to makethe pages fit into the exact look, feel, and functionality the userdesires. The Presentations Module also provides awhat-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editor that providesfunctionality for users to edit their web pages without having to learnthe technical details of HTML.

The Websites Module provides website creation and editing functionalityfor users to create and edit web pages. The user's web pages can bemanaged from within this module and automatically updated when any infois changed and saved via the module. Additionally, information can belinked to Gateway content via the Presentations Module of the Gateway.If the linked information changes in the Gateway, for example, using theData Schedules Module and the External Hosts Module to schedule updatesor immediately drive data to the web page, that information will bedriven automatically to the website's pages. And, because, for example,the Gateway Processing Module and the Retrievers Module can gatherinformation from outside the Gateway and process it into the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116, the functionality of the Presentations Module caneffectively automatically update the user's web pages even with datafrom sources outside of the Gateway.

The Newsletter Administration Module provides functionality for users tomanage their e-mail-based newsletters. A user can manage a newsletterdistribution list and allow people to sign up for the newsletter via theuser's website. The Newsletter Administration Module also providesfunctionality for a user to include information that the Gateway gathersautomatically for the user, such as via the Retrievers Module, includingarticles, press releases, and white papers. The NewsletterAdministration Module is based on the Presentations Module, so the usercan publish the user's newsletters using rich HTML-enabled templates.The Newsletter Administration Module will also coordinate links toexternal e-mail distribution services for the mass transmission ofe-mails using specialized e-mail transmission service providers.

The SPAM Blacklist Checker Module provides functionality for a user tocheck if an organization's mail server IP address has appeared on any ofthe dozens of SPAM blacklists that are available electronically. Userscan search for their personal domain names as well. Each entry in thetable of IP addresses to be checked includes the ID of the organizationthat owns the mail server. In conjunction with the Messaging Module,users can be alerted by the SPAM Blacklist Checker Module that theiroutbound e-mails have been categorized by anti-spam software as spamand, therefore, may not be getting to their intended targets.

The Access/Security Module of the Gateway provides functionality for anorganization's administrator to grant or deny internal and externalparties access to the organization's Gateway account and, therefore, tothe data stored on the Gateway's Database(s) 116. While anyone may go tothe Gateway and register, even identifying themselves with a specificorganization's Gateway account and records, that person cannot doanything in that account until granted access by that organization'sadministrator. Accordingly, the system will automatically request accessfor each user from the administrator of that respective company via theAccess/Security Module when each user registers himself to that account.When requests come into the Access/Security Module, the organization'sadministrator will receive notifications and alerts as defined in theirNotifications Module and Alerts Module. In the alternative, where theorganization's administrator registers a user to the organization'sGateway account, that administrator will grant the desired accesses whenhe/she registers the user to that account. When a user is granted accessto an organization's Gateway account, the organization will be added tothe user's personal Identities list of accessible companies, which willbe made available to the user for easy navigation between accounts inthe user's company pulldown select listing that is present on each pageof the Gateway. See, e.g., the Setup Identities Module, discussed below.With such access, a user can work side-by-side with other approved usersof the same organization and collaborate within the same workspace. TheAccess/Security Module operates in conjunction with the otherfunctionalities of the present invention to allow parties internal andexternal to an organization to work on the same task in the Gateway, ina multi-user, simultaneous manner. For example, this module may be usedin conjunction with the Setup Identities Module by a PR firm to allow aclient to alias an internal employee of the PR firm so that the clientcan help maintain product information, respond to reporter inquiries,see if product managers have filled out a survey, or any of a number ofPR activities. Such symbiosis was not possible prior to the Gateway ofthe present invention.

The Reports Module provides functionality for a Gateway AccountAdministrator to generate key overview reports for his/herorganization's Gateway account, including usage and other activity dataacross all modules. Gateway Account Administrators can view reports onuser access, activity within the system, e-commerce transactions, andother such important items. For example, Gateway Account Administratorscan see whether all of their users are regularly updating theinformation they are responsible for keeping current. Also, GatewayAccount Administrators can see key indicators of the use of their databy others, across the modules. Such reports can be added regularly basedon user feedback and information requirements.

The Toolbar Management Module provides functionality for Gateway AccountAdministrators who have chosen to launch into the market a brandedversion of the Gateway's Toolbar product with insightful informationabout propagation and use of that customized toolbar. The ToolbarManagement Module provides Gateway Account Administrators with thefunctionality to view which users downloaded the toolbar, upgraded tonew versions of the toolbar, or uninstalled the toolbar. Gateway AccountAdministrators can also control the system parameters for the toolbarsissued to users on their account, such as for advertising buttons on thetoolbar or for default information listings in the toolbar.

The Accounts Module provides functionality for Gateway AccountAdministrators to review extensive histories and the present status ofe-commerce in relation to their own processes, which are run on theGateway platform, and processes the account users take part in. Forexample, if a Gateway account is using the Buyer's Guide Module tocharge other users to enter information into a Buyer's Guide, then therevenues, credit card transactions, invoices (including outstandinginvoices) and other e-commerce related information will be presented tothe Gateway Accounts Administrator via this module. The Accounts Modulealso provides functionality for Gateway Account Administrators to viewthe status (including those accounts that payments are current on, thosewith upcoming renewals, and those that are expired) of all instanceswhere the account holder has subscribed to services run by otherorganizations using the Gateway system. Extensive reporting is providedin this module. All credit card transactions can be viewed in detail,and there is functionality to process credit card refunds. In addition,all invoice transactions can be viewed in detail level, and there isfunctionality to process paid invoices.

Organization Section

The Organization Section of the Gateway provides functionality for auser to control the way his/her organization, or company, is representedthroughout the Gateway. Basic organization information can be placed onthe Gateway with the Organization Section to create a profile for anorganization. Information such as logos, publications, classifications,investor/client/partner relationships tell the organization's story insome fashion and, in aggregate, define the organization to the world atlarge. Individual modules help support the Organization Section tomaintain that information in the associated Database(s) 116 and acrossthe Internet. For example, an organization's logo will automaticallyupdate across the Internet for any entity linked to that logo wheneverwhen the organization updates that logo on the Gateway. The modules inthe Organization Section that provide such functionality include anOrganization Profiles Module, an Organization Logos Module, aPublications Module, an Organization Directories Module, and aRelationships Module.

The Organization Profiles Module provides functionality for users tocreate multiple profiles for an organization by industry, by topic, byproduct, or by whatever category desired. Organization profiles areoften used throughout the marketing process to provide summaries ofvarious organization operations, such as in “About” boilerplateparagraphs in press releases, on membership pages at association andforum sites, in speaker introductions at events, and in tradeshowdirectories. Although short summaries about organizations can often befound in many different places, those summaries are rarely centrallycoordinated by the organization's marketing department and are often anafterthought to the organization. Moreover, organizations sometimes usegeneric summaries when more specific summaries are more appropriate.Accordingly, the Organization Profiles Module enables users to createmultiple specific profiles for an organization in a central place in theGateway where they are then accessible throughout the Gateway. TheGateway supports creating profiles by location (headquarters versusbranch offices), by use (by use for an Association Profile, in aWorkflow, etc.), or other such instances.

For example, if a user is creating a profile for an organization in aparticular industry, the user might use an industry-specific template onthe Gateway or create a custom profile on the fly. Creating a profilelisting merely requires placing the relevant information on theGateway's Database(s) 116. By creating multiple Gateway profiles withthe Organization Profiles Module, users can create a range ofbroadly-defined as well as very narrowly-defined profiles that willcollectively define the company's image (through the data) on the webwhen those profiles are utilized in various processes, such as theworkflow-driven processes of the Buyer's Guides Module and the GatewayDirectories Module. By creating specific profiles in response tospecific users' requests for certain information and linking eachseparate profile to an industry, topic, product, etc., on the Gateway,an organization is able to change their web presence by merely changingthe content of the profile at a single, central location, i.e., on theGateway's Database(s) 116. Once changed on the Gateway's Database(s)116, those changes will automatically flow to users who are using thatinformation throughout the Gateway.

The Organization Logos Module provides functionality for organizationsto maintain more control over the use of their logo on the web. Logosare used extensively all over the web, and many times without thepermission of the logo's owner. By merely uploading their logos to theGateway Database(s) 116 with the Logos Module, organizations can allowother entities to link, download, or otherwise use the logos from theGateway. The Logos Module also provides functionality for organizationsto restrict use of those logos to terms of usage that a user must readand agree before downloading the logos. If an organization changes itslogo, the organization need only upload the new logo to the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116 and designate that logo as its primary logo, and the newlogo will be pushed through the Gateway to update the logo across theInternet wherever someone is linked to that logo, such as via the DataSchedules Module and the External Hosts Module. Users can also set upalerts to occur via the Alerts Module to inform that user when suchuploads occur.

The Publications Module provides functionality for those organizationsthat are publishers to represent their “products” at an organizationalprofile level within the Gateway, prompting publishers to enter key dataabout their newspapers, magazines, online sites, and other publications.Such data includes editorial calendars, staff, and beats/topic areas.The Publications Module provides publishers with functionality to createa massive organizational profile for each publication, enabling otherusers to track and use that data in the Gateway's many systems andprocesses. That data can be used on the publisher's own website.

The Publications Module also causes changes in the organization'sinformation for a product to be pushed out to key publisher trackingsites that link to the organization's Gateway content. Accordingly, thePublications Module enables publishers to ensure that the informationabout their products is as current as possible by providing a centralaccess point for the publisher's Gateway account users to enter andupdate information that appears on an organization's website as well asthroughout the web. For example, an organization may use thePublications Module to enter information about the detailed upcomingeditorial calendar for a specific publisher product or service so thatthe information can then drive other Gateway processes, such as usingthe notification engine to tell all the PR firms interested in thosetopics that new editorial opportunities are on the way, or using thePresentations Module to display the data on the publisher's or otherentity's website.

The Organization Directories Module provides functionality for a user todetermine where an organization's profiles will be listed by providingfunctionality for a user to select those directory categories and othersimilar profile-based instances in which the user's organizationconducts business. One of the hardest parts of marketing is making surethat an organization is placed in the right categories. Being comparedwith the wrong products or the wrong competitors can be devastating toan organization. Accordingly, the Organization Directories Moduleprovides users with the functionality to specifically list theirorganization in dozens of directories, yellow pages, links listings,etc., by merely applying their profiles from the Organization ProfilesModule to the desired categories. A user need only click on the correctcategories and select the appropriate profile to associate with thatcategory in order to properly classify his/her organization. TheOrganization Directories Module enables an ongoing management of thosedirectory listings too—as categories are added in the OrganizationDirectories Module, Gateway users may receive alerts of those additionsthrough the Directory Widget on the MyGateway page, and via the AlertsModule. If any costs are required for posting to any particulardirectory, the Gateway can handle such e-commerce on behalf of thedirectory. The Organization Directories Module also provide users avisual summary of those directories where the users may not have updatedtheir information recently, prompting users to confirm that categoryselections and profile info is still current and correct. Users canclick on a thumbnail image of the directory to view a cached image oftheir directory listing. Accordingly, the Organization DirectoriesModule is a user's path to ensuring that an organization is optimallypositioned in the marketplace.

The Relationships Module provides functionality for users to identifyclient, partner, investor, and supplier relationships and request accessto any of those parties' Gateway records. Once approved, users can usethe functionality of the Identities Module to quickly switch amongrelationships and gain access to needed information as allowed by theparty granting access. Also, lists of clients, partners, investors, orsuppliers can be published to user websites so that an organizationcould maintain a page that lists the logos, organization profiles, andwebsite addresses of that organization's clients, partners, investors,or suppliers, all of which are updated by the Gateway whenever aclient's information is modified in the Gateway's Database(s) 116. Forexample, as is often popular with startup organizations trying tolegitimize themselves, an organization can populate a list on theorganization's website with all of that organization's partners with asimple mouse click to add each partner and a hyperlink to each partner'swebsite.

People Section

The People Section of the Gateway provides functionality fororganizations to communicate throughout the Gateway about their keypeople and the roles played by those people. A fundamental feature ofthe People Section is its ability to assign ownership and control ofroles and responsibilities to various people within an organization,such as who is in charge of booths at tradeshows or who is theorganization's representative to a particular forum or association. Asorganizations grow larger, it is particularly difficult to keep track ofsuch assignments, both internally and externally. Reporters, editors,event organizers, etc., all need to be able to efficiently identify andconverse with the right people. The People Section facilitates thosecommunications by clearly assigning specific roles to specific people.As those people leave the organization or change jobs, the roles can beeasily re-assigned to others. Individual modules help support the PeopleSection by causing such changes and updates to flow through the entiremarketing information chain via the web. Accordingly, the People Sectionenables organizations to assign roles to their entire extended family ofpeople to enable entities throughout the Gateway to get an accurate viewof the people who make their organization work on a day-to-day basis,such as subcontractors and partners. The modules that provide suchfunctionality include an Organizational Contacts Module, a My ContactsModule, and a Roles/Organization Module.

The Organizational Contacts Module provides functionality for a user tocreate a listing of the individual personal profiles of all the peoplethat are associated with a user's organization, both internal andexternal. When a user needs a complete listing of personnel for whateverreason, that listing can be pulled from the Organizational ContactsModule. If someone leaves the organization or changes jobs, the user cannavigate to the Organizational Contacts Module and update that person'srecords on the Gateway's Database(s) 116 and this update will flowthroughout the Gateway where users are linked to that data, therebykeeping that data current. When individual users access the Gateway,they are prompted to maintain their own records as well, providinganother check for data accuracy and currency.

The Organizational Contacts Module also provides functionality for auser to assign roles and Gateway access to that organization's variouscontacts, both internal and external. For example, if a Gateway AccountAdministrator adds a contact via the Contacts Module, the user isautomatically granted access to the Gateway Account Administrator'saccount, similar to how access is manually granted to requesting usersin the Access/Security Module. Using the Organizational Contacts Module,a user can click on a contact profile to see all of the contact'sPersonal Profile information and send an e-mail or download Vcardinformation about that contact.

Many organizations represent more than themselves in a marketingcapacity. For example, PR firms often have multiple clientrelationships. With the Organizational Contacts Module, users can viewthe most current organizational roles for each user because, as a useris assigned a role, the Gateway reacts to that updated information thenext time it encounters the information in the normal course ofoperations by pushing the updated information throughout the Gateway.Thus, when a Gateway Account Administrator goes to add a contact to aworkflow process, such as the media credentialing process in the MediaCredentialing Module, he/she can see the most current roles of eachperson within an organization and can accurately select the contactswith the role required for that process, such as users with a PR rolefor the media credentialing process. Roles are managed in theRoles/Organizations Module as described below.

The ability to centrally view the roles of all members of anorganization and to be able to manage and update those roles in acentral location was not possible prior to the Gateway of the presentinvention. Using the present invention, PR representatives who representmany clients can be listed on the Organization Contacts list for eachclient, thereby optimizing their public association with those clients.Once listed in the Contacts area, the PR representatives can worktogether with the client's own contacts in the system. Each party seeswhat the other sees to the extent that they have been granted access tothose Gateway records. Accordingly, a PR firm can allow externalcontacts to help maintain product information, respond to reporterinquiries, see if Product Managers have filled out a survey, or any of anumber of PR activities. Thus, the Organizational Contacts Moduleoperates in conjunction with the other functionalities of the presentinvention to allow parties internal and external to an organization towork in concert, in a multi-user, simultaneous manner. Accordingly, suchsymbiosis was not possible prior to the Gateway of the presentinvention.

The My Contacts Module is a central address book for Gateway users whereeach user can compile his/her lists of contacts that he/she wishes tointeract with in the Gateway. The My Contacts Module can be used toaggregate Gateway users into groups that facilitate interaction betweenthose users. The My Contacts Module provides functionality for users tocreate lists of other users or organizations, both registered and notregistered with the Gateway. Those lists are not static and can be setup by roles instead of by specific user or organization. Accordingly,when users create lists of other users based on those other users' roleswithin certain organizations and an organization changes any of thoseother users' roles within that organization using, for example, theRoles/Organizations Module, such changes will flow throughout theGateway and update each of the users' lists automatically. And, similarto the Gateway Directories Module, if users create lists oforganizations based on those organizations' segment in an industry,organizations will be added or deleted from those lists automatically asthe organizations join or leave each listed segment of industry.Accordingly, users can track the personnel within organizations andorganizations within certain segments of industry using the My ContactsModule. And, because, for example, the Gateway Processing Module and theRetrievers Module can gather information from outside the Gateway andprocess it into the Gateway's Database(s) 116, the functionality of theMy Contacts Module can track the personnel and organizations even wherethose personnel and organizations are not registered with the Gateway.The My Contacts Module also provides functionality for users to importor otherwise link to contact lists in other systems, such as theLINKEDIN and PLAXO brand social networking systems, to invite thosecontacts to take part in the Gateway and to apply those contacts togroups created by the user in the My Contacts Module.

The Roles/Organizations Module provides functionality for anorganization's administrator to assign professional roles to users,complete with their Public Profile information, both within thatorganization, e.g., Board of Director positions, media relationspositions, event responsibilities, etc., as well as outside thatorganization, e.g., association roles or judges for awards contests. TheRoles/Organizations Module provides functionality for users toillustrate hierarchical structures, like organizational charts, toillustrate parent/child relationships within an organization. Thisfeature is particularly useful in large public relations groups wheredifferent people might have different areas of operation, e.g.,“Northeast”, or different client bases, e.g., “Printers”. TheRoles/Organizations Module also provides functionality for users toplace people in multiple positions within the organization since, inpractice, most people hold many roles in an organization, e.g., “PRRepresentative”, “Sales Contact”, “Reporter”, “Editor”. For example, auser who is an account representative can assign the role of client toany user that the account that representative represents. Illustratingsuch relationships makes it easy for outside personnel, such as editorsand analysts, to know which people cover which clients. Accordingly,using the Roles/Organizations Module, a user can click on a person'srecord to view not only their contact and background information, butalso all the roles that the person holds in an organization and thepeople that person represents. Roles are easily reassigned with theRoles/Organizations Module, especially when contacts are removed fromthe Organization Contacts listing, because, when a user deletes a personfrom an organization, the user will be prompted to re-assign any rolesthat the deleted person was assigned to a current user on theorganization's Organization Contacts listing.

Search Section

The Search Section provides functionality for a user to search theDatabase(s) 116 of the Gateway as well as other data throughout the web.The Search Section provides a user access to various searchingfunctionalities of the Gateway, including a Retrievers Module, a SearchModule, a Branding Assistant Module and other various Gateway Tools,such as the Firefox Gateway Toolbar Module and Microsoft Office GatewayAdd-In Module found in the Tools Section, thus making it easier for auser to find exactly what the user is looking for on the Gateway andacross the Internet.

The Retrievers Module provides functionality for users to gatherinformation from the Internet and various outside databases via theGateway's spider engine and search engine and to provide requested datato the users requesting that data. The Gateway's spider engine is usedto gather data and store that data on the Gateway's Database(s) 116. Auser uses the Gateway's search engine to define keywords and targetwebsites from which they wish to receive information. The RetrieversModule then periodically queries the search engine for the requesteddata and sends new or updated data to the user. For example, theGateway's spider engine can be set up to find press releases, articles,white papers, case studies, books, event listings, FAQ listings, andglossary listings based on a user's pre-defined keywords and targetwebsites. The retrieved data is presented to users in bulk or initem-by-item processing form so that the information may be edited andapproved by the user for transferring to a user's server(s) outside theGateway for publishing to that user's or organization's website, or fordisplaying in a user's Retrievers Widget. Accordingly, users can publishcontent retrieved from the Internet to their websites—formatted, sorted,and complete—by simply linking to that information on the Gateway withone mouse click per item. In addition, the Retrievers Moduleautomatically updates information on the Gateway's Database(s) 116 basedon a comparative analysis between the information retrieved and thatinformation already stored on the Database(s) 116.

The Retrievers Module also provides functionality for users to createTopic Sets to accompany the processing of retrieved data. Topic Sets aregenerally tags that allow the user to check a box next to a topic toassociate the retrieved data with a particular topic. For example, if auser has a website with five sections, the names of those five sectionscan each be a topic within a topic set and, when processing a retrieveditem, any topics checked off will be associated with the retrieved item.By associating the retrieved data with one of those five sections, theretrieved data will be properly grouped by sub-topic when presented tothe user's website using the Presentations Module. The Retriever Modulealso enables users to create RSS streams of their data or to e-mail theresults of a retriever search to an e-mail destination. When dealingwith a retriever for the first time, a user can opt to retrieve onlydata that was created later than a specified date. Additionally, userscan store keyword sets in the Retrievers Module to use across differentretrievers.

The Search Module provides functionality for users to conduct direct,standalone searches of the Gateway's Database(s) 116. Users can, forexample, “Search for this exact phrase”, “Search for all of thesewords”, or “Search for any of these words” to maximize their searcheffectiveness. Users can save search criteria as a “Saved Search” andrevisit the results of the Saved Search whenever they want. Users canalso set up the Search Module to constantly run searches based on theSaved Search criteria and to provide them with alerts when the SavedSearch finds new items. The search functionality of the Search Modulecan search the Gateway's Database(s) 116 for matches in organizations,logos, people, roles, beats, products, publications, editorialopportunities, events, white papers, classifications, articles, pressreleases and other content types supported by the Gateway. Because theCore Data in the Gateway's Database(s) 116 is actively and purposefullycategorized and classified with multiple forms of Meta Data, searchingthe Gateway's Database(s) 116 is more successful and efficient.

The Search Module provides tabs within the results returned by searchesand displays the results in a number of formats and manners depending onthe keyword search terms used, including the following:

-   -   9. Organizations: Provided where the keywords match the        organization's name, organization's former name or abbreviated        name, the organization's city, state, country, or phone number,        the organization's website, or the description of the        organization;    -   10. Logos: Provided where the keywords match the logo's        description or the organization that owns the logo;    -   11. People: Provided where the keywords match the person's name,        the person's organization, the person's job title, the person's        phone number, or the person's e-mail address;    -   12. Roles: Provided where the keywords match the role        description, the name of the person in the role, the name of the        organization whose people are in the role, or the job title,        phone number, or e-mail of the person in the role;    -   13. Beats: Provided where the keywords match the beat        description, the name of the person in the beat, the name of the        organization whose people are in the beat, or the job title,        phone number, or e-mail of the person in the beat;    -   14. Products: Provided where the keywords match the product's        name, the organization that makes the product, the product's        part number, or the name of the product contact person;    -   15. Publications: Provided where the keywords match the        publication's name, the organization that publishes the        publication, or the publication's description;    -   16. Editorial Opportunities: Provided where the keywords match        the title or description of the opportunity, the name of the        publication providing the opportunity, or the organization that        publishes the publication;    -   17. Events: Provided where the keywords match the title or        description of the event;    -   18. Articles: Provided where the keywords match the title,        author, summary, or text of the article;    -   19. Press Releases: Provided where the keywords match the title,        summary, or text of the press release;    -   20. White Papers: Provided where the keywords match the title,        summary, or text of the white paper;    -   21. Awards: Provided where the keywords match the title,        summary, or industry affiliated with the awards program; and    -   22. Categories: Provided where the keywords match the title or        text of the categories.        The Search Module also hyperlinks search results to more        detailed information so that users can drill down to more        detailed information and directly access the Gateway's        Database(s) 116.

The Branding Assistant Module provides functionality for users todetermine what “brands” are available to market a product or service,such as URLs, toll-free numbers, logos, patents and trademarks. TheBranding Assistant Module searches key databases, such as the UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Electronic Search System(TESS), to determine the general availability of a term prior toinvesting in a more detailed and expensive search with a third partyprovider of such services. By searching multiple databases, the BrandingAssistant Module provides a summary of available communications pathsfor the brand manager in one quick setting.

Content Section

The Content Section of the Gateway provides functionality for users tocontrol the content in the Database(s) 116 by guiding what is uploadedby users as well as downloaded by the Gateway from the Internet. All ofthe content-driven modules support the ability to retrieve data via theGateway's Retriever Module or to post that data for dissemination overthe Gateway's wire service. The Content Section provides organizationswith control over a central repository of information that can beaccessed and disseminated by a Gateway user's organization and thepeople the organization is trying to influence. Data can be accessed bylinking to that data via the Gateway and disseminated by exporting thatdata to a media that can be sent throughout the Gateway or the Internetvia the Messaging Module, the Presentations Module, the RetrieversModule's RSS feeds or emails, or other Gateway Modules. For example, aPR firm may locate and link to articles mentioning a client's productand output a summary of all those articles in the Content Section in anemail to the client.

The Content Section utilizes sophisticated retrievers to scour theGateway's Database(s) 116 based on parameters set by the user. Forexample, a user sets up a retriever with the Retrievers Module, theretriever retrieves the data, and the Gateway's spider engine updatesthe Gateway's Database(s) 116 based on those retrievals. This downloadedinformation can then be used for all sorts of purposes in the Gateway,including creating presentations via the Presentations Module. Users canalso upload content including press releases, white papers, casestudies, book listings, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) lists,glossaries, links listings, and even icons into the Database(s) 116 foreasy access, dissemination, and web presentation throughout the Gatewayand beyond. That information can also be uploaded to external databases,including automatically completing any payment transaction required toupload such data with the Gateway's payment engine. Uploaded contentthat is published is communicated to the public via the Gateway's wireservice as well as to the Gateway's public directory of content that isoptimized to be scraped by public search engines. Because theDatabase(s) 116 is parsed and various forms of Meta Data are providedfor the Core Data stored on the Database(s) 116, the content-drivenmodules of the Content Section more efficiently locate and utilize thatinformation in the proper context. Content that is uploaded into theGateway can be linked to other content in the Gateway either manually orby automated analysis tools. Accordingly, logos, white papers, pictures,and other content that is applicable can be linked, for example, to anew product press release being issued so that a reporter will have moreinformation in context when reviewing that press release about theproduct. Those content-driven modules include a Documents Module, aPress Releases Module, an Articles Module, a White Papers Module, a CaseStudies Module, a Books Module, a Newsletters Module, a Products Module,an Icons Module, an Events Module, a Glossaries Module, a Links Module,a FAQ Lists Module, a Stats Module, an Analysts Reports Module, an AudioModule, a Video Module, and a Best In Class Module.

The Documents Module provides a central access point for all of thedocuments uploaded to the Gateway by an organization. Those documentsinclude press releases, articles, white papers, case studies, books,buyer's guides, surveys, presentations, training manuals, tutorials, andany other type of content that a Gateway user's organization might wantto make available to the media via the Gateway or to the public via theorganization's own website. Documents uploaded in this module areavailable to other modules as well, so they can be incorporated inprocesses and/or uploaded to upstream systems, such as known white paperdissemination services. In addition, content uploaded by other modulesin the Gateway is also accessible via the Documents Module whereappropriate, such as press releases uploaded using the Press ReleasesModule. The Document Module is a central store for all documents foundin the various modules in the Gateway's Content Section.

The Press Releases Module provides functionality for users to upload,store, and publish an organization's press releases to major newswiresand to sites that link to the Gateway press release content, includingthe user's own website. The Press Releases Module includes functionalitythat makes positive matches with publisher classification systems,ensuring that the relevant people see the organization's press releases.It also ensures that more websites, Influencers, and other Gateway userswill have access to the user's Gateway content by ensuring that theinformation is only uploaded, stored, and published to the relevantpeople. And, users can ensure they are matched, i.e., linked, withcertain categories of information and therefore automatically receivepress releases that are pertinent to those categories by, for example,using the Gateway Directories Module or the Organization DirectoriesModule to link to various organization profiles. The Press ReleasesModule also provides a stronger keyword capability by enabling users tolink to hundreds of industry specific words that better reflect theuser's preferred categories.

The Press Release Module takes an unconventional and novel approach tothe creation of a press release. Historically, press releases werelargely a single document from beginning to end. The problem thatpresented for external servers and other machines consuming that contentas it was published was that those servers and machines had to parse theinformation into its component pieces to be able to properly digest theinformation and put, for example, headlines in the Headlines field, thePR contact into the PR Contact field, etc. By contrast, the PressRelease Module of the present invention provides functionality for PRrepresentatives uploading press releases to parse the component piecesof press releases on the front end by placing the specific content intospecific fields. Thus, when the information is published, the Gateway'swire service is able to send out both a complete single document thatresembles the historical look of a press release as well as thepre-parsed out field-segmented Meta Data that makes up the release,thereby placing press releases in a format that is more consumable byservers and machines, such as public search engines. The Gateway takes asimilar approach to all content by making sure Meta Data records existfor all content to make it more easily consumable by web-based serversand machines.

The Articles Module provides functionality for users to upload, storeand publish articles and article references for use, for example, onthat user's organization's website. In that example, users can createarticle retrievers based on keywords to find articles written abouttheir organizations and then publish that information automatically totheir own internal intranet website. The article reference will includethe Meta Data about the article, such as, the article headline, asecondary headline, a summary of the article, a byline, the date, keyquotes, keyword(s) that found the article, and even a Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) hyperlink, to the article. Organizations can even rate thestories in the Articles Module for later trend analysis.

The Articles Module also provides functionality for users to postarticles so that the users can freely post Meta Data concerningpertinent articles that the users want in the Gateway's Database(s) 116that were otherwise not found in the Gateway's Database(s) 116. TheArticles Module allows users to find and post special types of articles,such as reviews about their products or services. Such reviews can begrouped together per product and can form additional specific researchfor a user, such as a product manager who is tracking the industry'sreaction to his/her product or service.

The White Papers Module provides functionality for organizations tomaintain their cadre of white papers and to get those white papers infront of the readers that marketing departments covet. Accordingly, theWhite Papers Module allows organizations to create an on-line whitepaper library repository for access throughout the Gateway. Users canupload their white papers for publishing to their websites and to whitepaper disseminators, such as BITPIPE, MARKETRESEARCH.COM, andWEBTORIALS.COM brand document libraries. A user can also use theGateway's retriever engine to find white papers of interest to thembased on key words, track competitor white paper listings, find thelatest technology white papers on key topics, etc. Accordingly, theWhite Papers Module provides a central access point for internal andexternal use of the user's white paper oriented content. One of thenovel aspects of the modules in the Gateway's Content Section is theirability to maintain logical connections to where the data is placed.Thus, if a user uploads a white paper and then, nine months later,wishes to retract the white paper because the product is no longeroffered, the user can easily recall the white paper using the WhitePapers Module's functionality. This is a unique functionality whenapplied across the web at large as with the present invention.

The Case Studies Module provides functionality, like the White PapersModule, for organizations to upload their case studies for publishing totheir websites. The Case Studies Module is a central access point forthe organization's case studies, which then can be “pushed” out, such asby the Data Schedules Module, to the user's website or key informationdistributors. Also similar to the White Papers Module, case studies canbe replaced or recalled on demand.

The Books Module works in conjunction with key online book sellers, suchas AMAZON.COM brand online book seller, to make it easy to publish andtrack book information in the Gateway's Database(s) 116. Using webservices from the Gateway and online book sellers, the Books Moduleautomatically interfaces with all key information on the online booksellers' databases to track rating, ranking, and pricing information tomake sure that a user's book references are as current as possible. TheBooks Module provides functionality for the user to upload their owninformation into the Gateway, so the user can publish the informationabout the book alongside or separate from an online bookseller'slistings. The Books Module is yet another means for users to trackinformation by keyword and to obtain a complete view of any topic usingthe Gateway.

The Newsletter Module provides functionality for users to upload orsearch for e-mail-based newsletters. E-mail newsletters today go into avoid because they are not generally stored in searchable locations. Withthe Gateway's Newsletter Module, users can sign up the Gateway toreceive the e-mail newsletter and have e-mails automatically captured bythe Gateway as a repository of those newsletters. Similarly, a user canupload an e-mail to the Gateway's Database(s) 116 to make that contentavailable for the Gateway's search engine and public search engines soothers can find those newsletters online. And, after a user has uploadeda newsletter into the Gateway's Database(s) 116, the user can use theNewsletter Administration Module to manage a newsletter distributionlist for that newsletter and allow people to sign up for the newslettervia the user's website.

The Products Module provides functionality for organizations toselectively make otherwise internal information readily available todesignated parties. Although certain product information is often keptin organization content repositories or in internal documents and isalmost never openly available to the media, analyst, and othercommunities for inclusion in Buyer's Guides, feature stories, productdirectories, etc., the Products Module enables editors and analysts todownload such product information for stories by merely linking to ordownloading product information that has been entered by users into theGateway's Database(s) 116. Product information, like all Content Sectioninformation, can be either manually or automatically (machine-to-machinelinks via the import/export engine) entered into the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116. Once entered into the Gateway's Database(s) 116,information is thus accessible by other parts of the Gateway. Forexample, the Products Module can link to and pre-populate Buyer's Guidesurveys with existing product fields that match those in the productdatabase to enable organizations to more quickly answer a majority ofreporter questions before having to manually enter the remaininginformation. Such a re-use of information speeds up the process forproduct and other marketing managers to respond to reporter queries.And, organizations with content management systems can keep theirproduct areas current by pushing relevant data to all those Influencerslinked to the Gateway and who require the information by sending themthe information, such as via the Data Schedules Module and the ExternalHosts Module. The Products Module is very attractive to reportersbecause it provides a central place where Influencers can gather datafor several organizations at one time, thus enabling them to includemore data in their stories or research projects.

Similar to the Logos Module, the Icons Module provides functionality forusers to maintain more control over the use of their icons on the web.Many organizations create specialized icons for their products that areoften used in graphics/presentation programs, such as MS POWERPOINT andVISIO brand graphics/presentation programs. In conjunction with, forexample, the Microsoft Office Gateway Add-In Tool, the Icons Moduleenables a user to access an organization's icons from directly withinany of the applications of the MS OFFICE brand software suite. The usercan also create an Icons Library on the user's website using the IconsModule.

The Events Module provides functionality for users to push informationabout an event out to Influencers who have linked to the event. TheGateway of the present invention provides a novel approach to dealingwith event marketing. Prior to the present invention, an event organizerwould issue a press release about an event very early in the event'sdevelopment to promote the event. However, as an event's plan takesshape, the event often changes dates, venue, or other key attributes.Such changes would be missed by those who had already publishedinformation about the event in the initial press release. And, if theevent is cancelled, there was no means to recall the event listingsexcept by issuing another press release, which is not desired nor 100%guaranteed to be seen by all of those Influencers who had alreadypublished data about the event. To solve such problems, the EventsModule provides functionality for an event organizer to update eventinformation at any time and have that information flow through theGateway, the Internet, and other databases where the event was initiallypublished. In addition, by classifying the user's event within theGateway, the user can attract new potential attendees through themarketing and publicity opportunities within the Gateway, such as theEvents Widget on the MyGateway page where other users have designatedthat classification of event to appear.

The Events Module provides a user with a central point of access forgathering and disseminating information about the user's events, whetherthey are as big as a tradeshow, or merely a one-hour Webinar/Webcast. Inconjunction with the other modules of the Gateway, the Events Module cancommunicate the user's event information to key upcoming event listingsand eventwire publishers throughout the Gateway and across the Internet.And, when using the Gateway's retriever engine, the user can alsoretrieve other users' event information to populate the user's websitewith upcoming event information.

The Glossaries Module provides functionality for users to enter andmaintain a glossary of key information on the user's website. Using asimple and intuitive interface, a user can enter his/her terms,abbreviations, definitions, URL links, diagrams and other information tocreate and maintain, in a single or multi-user fashion, a listing ofterms for the user's website and those linked to the user's website,such as an organization's channel partners. Once stored in the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116, the user's glossary can be published to anyone the userhas given permission to link to that data. The user can also use theGateway's retriever engine to track definitions on other glossary sitesso the user can create a metaGlossary of information contained on othersites, with links to those other sites for more detailed definitions. Inthat manner, an organization associated with a particular technology cantrack web-based glossary definitions for that particular technology,both to see glossaries where the technology is not mentioned and toreview and potentially correct glossaries where the technology ismentioned. No such functionality existed prior to the present invention.

The Links Module provides functionality for users to maintain linkslistings on their websites. A user can enter and view key information,such as partners and distributors, by simply entering the URL thatidentifies the location of that information into the Links Module, andthe Presentations Module will automatically process and publish the URLsto a list on the user's website. The Links Module, like many of theGateway's other modules, can also be accessed by any other user to whomthe user grants access, enabling the user to centrally manageinformation with the user's partners or distributors and for the user'spartners or distributors to automatically link content to the user'swebsite.

The FAQ Lists Module provides functionality for users to maintain andaccess a FAQ of key information that users wish to communicate to otherusers. Managing FAQ lists on a user's website can be administrativelydifficult, particularly if multiple people have to help maintain them.Utilizing the Gateway's retriever engine, the FAQ Lists Module allowsusers to create virtual FAQs based on other organizations' FAQ listssuch that the FAQ Lists Module will link the question and associated URLfor the answer so that users are sent to the originating site for moredetails when they click on the question, which enables the creation ofmetaFAQ lists. The specific capability to combine FAQs is unique to thepresent invention.

The Stats Module provides functionality for users to upload theirindustry and other pertinent statistics into the Gateway's Database(s)116 where those statistics are accessible and can be pushed out to thosewho track such industry content, for example via retrievers' RSS feedsor the Gateway's wire service. The Stats Module provides functionalityfor users to retrieve and group statistics for inclusion in analystreports by industry analysts or news stories by reporters. Thestatistics can also be uploaded to various Internet databases that tracksuch statistics, providing a wider audience to the statistics.

The Analyst Reports Module provides functionality for users to uploadtheir analyst reports into the Gateway's Database(s) 116 where thosereports are accessible and can be pushed out to reports listing servicesvia, for example, the External Hosts Module. The Analyst Reports Moduleprovides functionality for users to retrieve and group analyst reportsfor competitive tracking and information gathering. Analyst Reports canbe linked, for example, to statistics and press releases to betterprovide relevant information for external listing services to makeavailable to potential buyers and to better market the reports. TheAnalyst Reports Module also provides functionality for users to makefull text analyst reports available via special permissions, such as toselect reporters, via a permissions control mechanism in the module.

The Audio Module and the Video Module each provide functionality,respectively, for users to place audio and video data on the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116. Each respective module assigns audio or video Meta Dataso that the data can be searched more easily using, for example, theSearch Module. Each respective module also provides functionality forusers to upload audio or video data from the Gateway to sites such asthe ITUNES brand audio site or the YOUTUBE brand video site.

The Best in Class Module provides functionality for users to create aBest In Class dataset by applying selective filtering to organizationsand their products in a particular category. For example, a productmanager creating a new product might wish to simultaneously meet theoptimal capabilities from a number of products or services. Users canuse the Best In Class Module to create a matrix of the relevant productsor services and check those product or service responses that constitutethe Best In Class of the offerings as a group. The user can then displaythe Best In Class products or services in a matrix with the user'sproduct or service offerings to show how the Best In Class product orservice compares. No such functionality existed prior to the presentinvention.

Workflow Section

The Workflow Section of the Gateway provides functionality for a user tocontrol the flow of data throughout the Gateway. Workflow routines areexecuted by the Server(s) 114 to automate process-specific activities,such as causing the Router(s) 118 to automatically transfer data, basedon certain triggering events, e.g., a user modifying that data on theDatabase(s) 116. The workflows of the present invention automate suchactivities by establishing the role that each user takes in a processand allowing a document to be processed and moved from one status toanother according to a set of rules. In addition, the workflows of thepresent invention can be employed by a user for automating e-commerce,such as electronic billing. The workflows can be used once for aspecific purpose, or left ongoing for continual entry and updating ofinformation. And, the ability of the Gateway to build and maintainrelationships between users, roles, and companies allows a workflow tobecome a social networking tool for the purpose of the workflow. Usersof the Gateway are prompted to take part in workflows that might be ofinterest to them based on activities they have taken part in previouslyand/or topics they have noted that are of interest to them. In addition,workflows reach out on a regular basis via e-mail and other alerts tomake sure users are still involved in the topic area of the workflow andare still interested in taking part in the workflow. Workflows alsotrack roles and relationships within the workflows to enable users tosee, for example, what other users in their organization are doing inthe same workflow and to invite others to take part in the workflow.Accordingly, co-workers and PR firm/clients can work together on thesame workflows to common goals.

The Gateway's workflow engine includes the routines that provide ashared set of workflow functionality applied to the Gateway'sworkflow-driven modules. An exemplary embodiment of those routinesaccording to the present invention is provided in File Nos. 1-7 of theComputer Program Listing Appendix incorporated herein by reference. Byseparating the logic into a separate set of code in the workflow engineinstead of in the individual workflow-driven modules, eachworkflow-driven module shares the same basic logic, which provides aconsistent and robust set of functionality for each workflow-drivenmodule and allows the performance of all of those modules to beoptimized by merely modifying the underlying code.

Among the functionality provided by the workflow engine that may beutilized by the workflow-driven modules are functionality for choosingfrom predefined definitions of the preferences, rules, and displayparameters for defining a workflow for completing a task; functionalityfor creating and storing various forms and templates used within theworkflow; functionality for storing the information regarding theindividuals and/or organizations participating in the task for which theworkflow is provided; functionality for storing problem/response recordsgenerated during the workflow; functionality to track the status oftasks, by individual user/participant, to be performed during theworkflow, such as whether a specific user participant has completed aspecific form; functionality to view, edit, update, and deleteinformation stored as part of the workflow; and functionality to performcertain operations that all of the workflow-driven modules provide, suchas sending an e-mail to a group of contacts, registering users, orreporting on specific activities in the workflow through reports in theworkflow. The Gateway's workflow engine also provides functionality fora workflow administrator to brand the look and feel of the userexperience with their workflow process by uploading banners, customstyle sheets, headers, footers, and other images that can be used inemails and web-based participating user interfaces.

The various functionalities of the workflow engine are accomplished byproviding a pre-defined data set of entities and components forinteracting with the scripting language of a user interface, such as aweb page. The entities are stored in the Gateway's Database(s) 116 andinclude the following:

-   -   1. Workflow: An instance of an individual workflow. Attributes        include Workflow ID, Name, Type of Workflow, Preference Record        ID, Response User Interface (UI) Style Sheet, Response UI        Header, and Response UI Footer.    -   2. Workflow Company: Identifies each organization that is        participating in the workflow. Attributes include the Workflow        ID, Organization Record ID, and Pre-approved Status.    -   3. WorkflowCompanyRole: Identifies each organization's role        within the workflow. Attributes include the Organization ID,        Role ID, Status ID, and Percent Complete.    -   4. WorkflowContact: Identifies each individual participating        within the workflow. Attributes include the Workflow ID, User        Record ID, Organization Record ID, Pre-approved Status, and        Registered Status.    -   5. WorkflowContact: Identifies each contact's role within the        workflow. Attributes include the Contact ID, Role ID, Status ID,        Role Type, Percent Complete, and Invitation GUID (Globally        Unique Identifier).    -   6. WorkflowE-mail: Defines each e-mail used within a workflow        with a link to the Gateway's messaging engine. Attributes        include the Workflow ID, E-mail ID, Sequence Number, Type ID,        Role ID, Method ID, From Type ID, Attachments, and Enabled        Status.    -   7. WorkflowE-mailFromType: Defines each “from” type for e-mails        (primary administrator, secondary administrator). Attributes        include From Type ID and Name.    -   8. WorkflowE-mailMethod: Defines each sending method for e-mails        (automatic, manual). Attributes include Method ID and Name.    -   9. WorkflowE-mailType: Defines each e-mail type. Attributes        include Type ID and Name.    -   10. WorkflowForm: Identifies each form (document type) used        within a workflow, with a link to the Gateway's forms engine.        Attributes include Workflow ID, Form ID, and Type ID.    -   11. WorkflowFormPermission: Specifies the permission (or access)        that users have to instances of forms within a workflow.        Attributes include Owner ID, Type ID, End Date, Comments, and        Granted Status.    -   12. WorkflowFormType: Defines each form type. Attributes include        Type ID and Name.    -   13. WorkflowImage: Identifies images, such as logos, that are        used within the workflow response process. Attributes include        Workflow ID, Type ID, Name, Format, and Media ID.    -   14. WorkflowProblem: Identifies each problem reported about a        document in a workflow. Attributes include Document ID, Category        ID, Type ID, New Category ID, Reason, Date, Status ID.    -   15. WorkflowProblemResponse: Identifies each response to a        reported problem. Attributes include Problem ID, Answer,        Comments, and Date.    -   16. WorkflowProblemStatus: Defines the problem status type.        Attributes include Status ID and Description.    -   17. WorkflowPublication: Identifies publications associated with        a workflow. Attributes include Workflow ID, Publication Record        ID, and Pre-approved Status.    -   18. WorkflowRole: Defines each role type. Attributes include        Role ID, Name, and Workflow Type ID.    -   19. WorkflowRounds: Identifies each round for workflows that        support multiple rounds, such as that utilized by the Awards        Module. Attributes include Name, Role ID, Rounds, and Sequence        Number.    -   20. WorkflowStatus: Defines each type of status for        organizations and contacts. Attributes include Workflow Type ID,        Name, Sequence Number.    -   21. WorkflowStatusChange: Defines rules for how statuses change.        Attributes include Status ID, Form Type ID, Form Action, Old        Status, and New Status.    -   22. WorkflowType: Defines type of workflow. Attributes include        Type ID, Name, and Preference Table ID, Response UI URL, and        Admin UI URL.    -   23. WorkflowTypeE-mail: Defines the default e-mails for each        workflow type. Attributes include Workflow Type ID, E-mail ID,        Sequence Number, Type ID, Role ID, Method ID, and From Type ID.    -   24. WorkflowTypeForm: Defines the default forms for each        workflow type. Attributes include Workflow Type ID, Form ID, and        Type ID.        The components contain the programming logic that interacts with        the scripting language of the user interface, such as a web        page, and include the following functions:    -   1. mBWorkflow.CInternal.Add: Adds a workflow record.    -   2. mBWorkflow.CInternal.AddE-mail: Adds an e-mail record.    -   3. mBWorkflow.CInternal.AddStatus: Adds a status record.    -   4. mBWorkflow.CInternal.AddStatusChange: Adds a status change        record.    -   5. mBWorkflow.CInternal.Delete: Deletes a workflow record.    -   6. mBWorkflow.CInternal.DeleteE-mail: Deletes an e-mail record.    -   7. mBWorkflow.CInternal.DeleteStatus: Deletes a status record.    -   8. mBWorkflow.CInternal.DeleteStatusChange: Deletes a status        change record.    -   9. mBWorkflow.CInternal.Fetch: Fetches a workflow record.    -   10. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchE-mail: Fetches an e-mail record.    -   11. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchE-mails: Fetches e-mail records.    -   12. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchRoles: Fetches roles records.    -   13. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchRoleNameByAdminLevel: Fetches role        name based on admin level.    -   14. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchStatus: Fetches a status record.    -   15. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchStatusChange lngStatusChangeID:        Fetches a status change record.    -   16. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchStatusChanges: Fetches status        change records.    -   17. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchStatuses: Fetches status records.    -   18. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflows: Fetches workflow        records.    -   19. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflowsByCoID: Fetches workflow        records for a company.    -   20. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflowsByContact: Fetches        workflow records for a contact.    -   21. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflowsCommentsByCoID: Fetches        comments for a company.    -   22. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflowsCommunicationsByContact:        Fetches e-mails for a contact.    -   23. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflowsContactsByCoID: Fetches        contacts for a Company.    -   24. mBWorkflow.CInternal.FetchWorkflowsDataByCoID: Fetches        documents for a company.    -   25. mBWorkflow.CInternal.Update: Updates a workflow record.    -   26. mBWorkflow.CInternal.UpdateE-mail: Updates an e-mail record.    -   27. mBWorkflow.CInternal.UpdateStatus: Updates a status record.    -   28. mBWorkflow.CInternal.UpdateRoles: Updates a role record.    -   29. mBWorkflow.CInternal.UpdateStatusChange: Updates a status        change record.    -   30. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Add: Add a workflow record.    -   31. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.AddE-mail: Add an e-mail record.    -   32. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Copy: Copies a workflow record.    -   33. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.CopyE-mails: Copies workflow e-mail        records.    -   34. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Delete: Deletes a workflow record.    -   35. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.DeleteCompany: Deletes a company        record.    -   36. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.DeleteContact: Deletes a contact        record.    -   37. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.DeleteImage: Deletes an image record.    -   38. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.DeletePublication: Deletes a        publication record.    -   39. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Fetch: Fetches a workflow record.    -   40. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchByGUID: Fetches a workflow record        by GUID.    -   41. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchCompanies: Fetches company        records.    -   42. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchCompaniesPreapproved: Fetches        company records by pre-approved status.    -   43. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchCompany: Fetches a company record.    -   44. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchCompanyPermission: Fetches a        company's permission for a form type ID.    -   45. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchCompanyPermissions: Fetches a        company's permissions for forms.    -   46. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContact: Fetches a contact record.    -   47. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContactByContactID: Fetches a        contact record by contact ID.    -   48. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContactByE-mail: Fetches a contact        record by e-mail address.    -   49. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContactByGUID: Fetches a contact        record by GUID.    -   50. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContactPermission: Fetches a        contact's permission for a form type ID.    -   51. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContactPermissions: Fetches a        contact's permissions for forms.    -   52. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContacts: Fetches contact records.    -   53. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchContactsPreapproved: Fetches        contact records by pre-approved status.    -   54. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchE-mail: Fetches an e-mail record.    -   55. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchE-mailFromTypes: Fetches e-mail        “from type” records.    -   56. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchE-mails: Fetches e-mail records.    -   57. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchE-mailsHistory: Fetches e-mail        history records.    -   58. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchE-mailMethods: Fetches e-mail        “method type” records.    -   59. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchE-mailTypes: Fetches e-mail “type”        records.    -   60. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchImage: Fetches an image record.    -   61. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchImageByMediaID: Fetches an image        record by media ID.    -   62. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchImagesByWorkflowID: Fetches images        records by workflow ID.    -   63. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchPublication: Fetches a publication        record.    -   64. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchPublicationsPreapproved: Fetches        publications by pre-approved status.    -   65. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchStatusByForm: Fetches workflow        status records by form type ID.    -   66. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchWorkflowsByTypeID: Fetches        workflow records by type ID.    -   67. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchWorkflowType: Fetches a type        record.    -   68. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchWorkflowTypes: Fetches type        records.    -   69. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.FetchWorkflowFormType: Fetches a form        type record.    -   70. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.InsertCompany: Adds a company record.    -   71. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.InsertContact: Adds a contact record.    -   72. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.InsertForm: Adds a form record.    -   73. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.InsertForms: Adds form records.    -   74. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.InsertImage: Adds an image record.    -   75. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.InsertPublication: Adds a publication        record.    -   76. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Register: Registers a user.    -   77. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Revalidate: Re-validates a user.    -   78. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.SearchCompanyByClassification: Searches        for a company based upon classification.    -   79. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Update: Updates a workflow.    -   80. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateCompanyPercentComplete: Updates        percent complete for a company record.    -   81. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateCompanyPermission: Updates        permissions for a company.    -   82. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateContactPermissionComments:        Updates comments for a contact permission record.    -   83. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateCompanyPreapproved: Updates        pre-approved status for a company record.    -   84. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateCompanyStatus: Updates status for        a company record.    -   85. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateContact: Updates a contact        record.    -   86. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateContactPermission: Updates        permissions for a contact.    -   87. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateContactPreapproved: Updates        pre-approved status for a contact record.    -   88. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateContactStatus: Updates status for        a contact record.    -   89. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateE-mail: Updates an e-mail record.    -   90. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateE-mailTemplate: Updates an e-mail        template record.    -   91. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateImage: Updates an e-mail record.    -   92. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdatePublicationPreapproved: Update        pre-approved status for a publication record.    -   93. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.UpdateWorkflowContactRegistered: Update        contact registered with workflow.    -   94. mBWorkflow.CWorkflow.Validate: Validates a user after        registration.    -   95. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.AddEmail: Adds an email.    -   96. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.DeleteEmail: Deletes an email.    -   97. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.FetchEmail: Fetches an email.    -   98. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.FetchEmailByType: Fetches an email        by email type.    -   99. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.FetchEmailHistory: Fetches all        email history for a workflow.    -   100. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.FetchEmailHistoryByName: Fetches        email history by recipient name.    -   101. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.FetchEmailHistorySearch: Searches        email history.    -   102. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.FetchEmails: Fetches emails for a        workflow.    -   103. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.InsertEmails: Inserts default        emails for a workflow.    -   104. mBWorkflow.CWorkflowEmail.UpdateEmail: Updates an email.        Exemplary embodiments of routines of the present invention that        implement those component functions are provided in File Nos.        1-4 of the Computer Program Listing Appendix incorporated herein        by reference. Where the scripting language is the MICROSOFT (MS)        brand Active Server Pages (ASP) server-side scripting language        for dynamically generated web pages, the present invention        provides the following class functions:    -   1. cWorkflow.Add: Adds a workflow record.    -   2. cWorkflow.Delete: Deletes a workflow record.    -   3. cWorkflow.DeleteCompany: Deletes a company record.    -   4. cWorkflow.DeleteContact: Deletes a contact record.    -   5. cWorkflow.Fetch: Fetches a workflow record.    -   6. cWorkflow.FetchByGUID: Fetches a workflow record by GUID.    -   7. cWorkflow.FetchCompany: Fetches a company record.    -   8. cWorkflow.FetchCompanies: Fetches company records.    -   9. cWorkflow.FetchContact: Fetches a contact record.    -   10. cWorkflow.FetchContactByContactID: Fetches a contact record        by Contact ID.    -   11. cWorkflow.FetchContactByEmail: Fetches a contact record by        email address.    -   12. cWorkflow.FetchContactByGUID: Fetches a contact record by        GUID.    -   13. cWorkflow.FetchContacts: Fetches contact records.    -   14. cWorkflow.FetchPublication: Fetches a publication record.    -   15. cWorkflow.InsertCompany: Adds a company record.    -   16. cWorkflow.InsertPublication: Adds a publication record.    -   17. cWorkflow.InsertContact: Inserts a publication record.    -   18. cWorkflow.Update: Updates a workflow record.    -   19. cWorkflow.UpdateContact: Updates a contact record.    -   20. cWorkflow.UpdateContactStatus: Updates status in a contact        record.    -   21. cWorkflowEmail.Add: Adds an email record.    -   22. cWorkflowEmail.Fetch: Fetches an email record.    -   23. cWorkflowEmail.FetchEmails: Fetches email records.    -   24. cWorkflowEmail.FetchFromTypes: Fetches “from type” records.    -   25. cWorkflowEmail.FetchHistory: Fetches history records.    -   26. cWorkflowEmail.FetchMethods: Fetches “method type” records.    -   27. cWorkflowEmail.FetchTypes: Fetches “email type” records.    -   28. cWorkflowEmail.GetEmailVariables: Gets variables for an        email.    -   29. cWorkflowEmail.GetEmailVariablesDescription: Gets        description of variables for an email.    -   30. cWorkflowEmail.GetParameterNames: Gets parameter names from        email variables.    -   31. cWorkflowEmail.GetParameters: Gets parameters for an email.    -   32. cWorkflowEmail.GetRecipients: Gets recipients for an email.    -   33. cWorkflowEmail.ReplaceBodyParams: Replaces variables with        parameter values in email HTML body.    -   34. cWorkflowEmail.ReplaceTextParams: Replaces variables with        parameter names in email text body.    -   35. cWorkflowEmail.Send: Sends an email.    -   36. cWorkflowEmail.SendCustom: Sends a custom email.    -   37. cWorkflowEmail.Update: Update an email record.    -   38. cWorkflowDisplay.CompanyActions: Processes company form        actions.    -   39. cWorkflowDisplay.CompanyData: Setup UI for company form.    -   40. cWorkflowDisplay.CompanyDisplay: Displays company form.    -   41. cWorkflowDisplay.CompanyListActions: Processes company list        actions.    -   42. cWorkflowDisplay.CompanyListData: Setup UI for company list.    -   43. cWorkflowDisplay.CompanyListDisplay: Displays company list.    -   44. cWorkflowDisplay.ContactActions: Processes contact form        actions.    -   45. cWorkflowDisplay.ContactData: Setup UI for contact form.    -   46. cWorkflowDisplay.ContactDisplay: Displays contact form.    -   47. cWorkflowDisplay.ContactListActions: Processes contact list        actions.    -   48. cWorkflowDisplay.ContactListData: Setup UI for contact list.    -   49. cWorkflowDisplay.ContactListDisplay: Displays contact list.    -   50. cWorkflowDisplay.EmailActions: Processes email form actions.    -   51. cWorkflowDisplay.EmaiIData: Setup UI for email form.    -   52. cWorkflowDisplay.EmaiIDisplay: Displays email form.    -   53. cWorkflowDisplay.EmailListActions: Processes email list        actions.    -   54. cWorkflowDisplay.EmailListData: Setup UI for email list.    -   55. cWorkflowDisplay.EmailListDisplay: Displays email list.    -   56. cWorkflowDisplay.FormListData: Setup UI for form list.    -   57. cWorkflowDisplay.FormListDisplay: Displays form list.        An exemplary embodiment of a routine of the present invention        that implements those class functions are provided in File No. 8        of the Computer Program Listing Appendix incorporated herein by        reference. Together, the entities, components, and the scripting        language facilitate user interaction with the workflow engine        via a user interface, such as a web page.

The workflow engine also provides three distinct types of userinterface: a workflow administrator interface, a participating userinterface, and a Gateway Provider Administrator Interface. The workflowadministrator interface provides functionality for the user who is theadministrator of the workflow to define the workflow's preferences,rules, and display parameters as well as perform the administrative rolein the workflow by communicating with other users participating in theworkflow and working with the workflow's forms. The participating userinterface provides functionality for the users participating in theworkflow to respond communications from the workflow administrator andto perform the functions required by their role, such as completing andsubmitting various forms. And, the Gateway Provider Administratorinterface provides functionality for a Gateway Provider Administrator toconfigure the workflow engine and its pre-defined routines. Accordingly,the workflow engine provides functionality for a utilizing an existingworkflow or customizing a workflow for automating the completion of atask performed by a workflow-driven module. The workflow-driven modulesinclude a Media Credentialing, an Event Relations Module, an AwardsModule, a Member Relations Module, a Legal Relations Module, a ProspectsModule, a Market Presence Module, a Buyer's Guides Module, a SurveysModule, a Gateway Directories Module, a User Tasks Module, and a GatewayChallenge/Response Module.

Industry tradeshows are a popular way for Sellers to present theircurrent and future products and services to Buyers and Influencers. Whenmembers of the press, including reporters, editors, and industryanalysts (hereinafter referred to as the “media”) attend a tradeshow,they are typically able to attend using a Press Pass, without payingregistration fees, in exchange for their media coverage of the show.Before attending, the tradeshow organizers employ a credentialingprocess to determine that parties are authentic members of the press,and that those parties are likely to provide appropriate coverage forthe show. Shows sometimes have a limited number of Press Passes, whichis often determined by the size of the pressroom and the stature orexclusiveness of the event. The tradeshow may also limit the number ofpeople from one media outlet.

The media credentialing process is a manually intensive process for allinvolved. For example, members of the media must fill out and submit anapplication, as well as some or all of the following items to establishtheir credentials: a copy of their business card, a photograph, a copyof the masthead on which they appear, a letter from their editor statingthey are on assignment from the publication to visit the tradeshow, anda list of recent articles they have written on topics relevant to theshow. Each show asks for similar information from the reporters. Inaddition, tradeshow organizers must validate and check that informationin order to determine the authenticity of the provided credentials. Ifthe tradeshow is making a limited number of press passes available, thenthe applicants have to be ranked and rated, which can be a difficultprocess, especially when the applications are submitted over a longperiod of time. And, tradeshow organizers often have to communicate withthe members of the media to follow up on information not provided or oninformation that needs to be clarified or corrected.

Accordingly, the Media Credentialing Module provides functionality formore efficiently establishing the credentials of members of the media byautomating the credentialing process. The Media Credentialing Modulestreamlines the entire credentialing process by providing functionalityfor members of the media to easily create and submit applications; forshow organizers to easily to review, validate, and rank applicants, oreven automatically validate applicants if desired by the eventorganizer; and for maintaining and managing media relationships before,during and after show. An exemplary embodiment of the routines of thepresent invention that provide the functionality for the MediaCredentialing Module is provided in File Nos. 9-142 of the ComputerProgram Listing Appendix incorporated herein by reference.

The Media Credentialing Module can structure data flow between mediamembers and tradeshow organizers according to any number of pre-definedworkflows. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, the MediaCredentialing Module of the present invention may include the followingworkflow:

-   -   Step 1: A user managing the administration of credentials for a        tradeshow to members of the media (hereinafter referred to as        the “Admin”) creates a new media credentialing process in the        Credentialing Module.    -   Step 2: The Admin configures the process by setting the        preferences for the credentialing process in the Credentialing        Module. Those preferences include the credentialing rules, the        text used in the media credentialing screens, what parts of the        media credentialing process will be used, how the parts of the        media credentialing process will operate, what information will        be required on the application forms, how the applications will        be evaluated, and the dates and schedule for the media        credentialing process. The Credentialing Module will also create        an external link that will allow individuals that wish to        participate in the credentialing process to be included by        merely clicking on the link.    -   Step 3: The Admin identifies companies that will participate in        the media credentialing process and imports, creates, or links        those companies' records into the Credentialing Module.    -   Step 4: The Admin identifies individuals that will participate        in the media credentialing process and imports, creates, or        links those peoples' records into the Credentialing Module.    -   Step 5: The Admin creates invitations in the Credentialing        Module that inform other users, e.g., Reporters, about the        tradeshow and invite those users to apply for credentials for        the tradeshow, and the Credentialing Module automatically sends        those invitations and applications to the companies and        individuals identified in Steps 3 and 4. The Credentialing        Module also auto-populates at least a portion of the        applications using the media profiles imported, created, or        linked with the corresponding company's or individual's records,        or as sent into the Gateway by external event registration or        other systems.    -   Step 6: The Reporters fill out the applications and submit them        via the Credentialing Module. The Admin receives each        application or a notification as each application is submitted.        The Credentialing Module can be set up to automatically transfer        the applications to the Admin after the close of the submission        period, on a rolling basis as they are submitted, or as manually        prompted by the Admin. The Credentialing Module will notify each        Reporter whether his/her application was successfully submitted,        and if denied, a reason for the rejection.    -   Step 7A: If the Admin set the preference in the Credentialing        Module to perform automatic credentialing, then the        Credentialing Module will execute a credentialing routine after        an application is submitted and will automatically determine        whether the application is approved, denied, or requires further        review based on a set of predetermined rules. The Admin and        Reporter are each notified about the results of the automatic        credentialing, i.e., whether the application was approved or        denied.    -   Step 7B: If the Admin set the preference in the Credentialing        Module to require the Admin's approval, the Admin must review        each application and either approve or deny it. The Reporter        automatically receives notification when his/her application is        approved or denied by the Admin.    -   Step 8: Before the end of the submission period, the Admin uses        the Credentialing Module to deliver a notification to the        reporters, to remind them that the submission period will end        soon.    -   Step 9: After an application has been denied, the reporter may        choose to revise or complete information on the application        form, and resubmit it.    -   Step 10: After the close of the submission period, the Admin        uses the Credentialing Module to deliver a notification to the        reporters, to inform them that the submission period has closed.    -   Step 11: Before the tradeshow begins, the Admin imports,        creates, or links the final details about show attendance and        press passes to the Credentialing Module and the Credentialing        Module delivers that information to the approved Reporters.    -   Step 12: The Admin uses the Credentialing Module to export the        information gathered by the credentialing process for approved        members of the media, and imports it into the Admin's        registration software.        And, via the workflow engine, a user may modify the workflow in        the Media Credentialing Module by, for example, combining the        Steps 5 and 11 so that when an application is accepted, the        approved Reporter automatically receives notice of the approval        as well as details about show attendance and press passes. Or,        the user can create his/her own workflow for the media        credentialing process with the workflow engine. Such exemplary        functionality is provided for each of the workflow-driven        modules.

The Media Credentialing Module also utilizes the other functionalitiesof the Gateway to streamline and automate the media credentialingprocess. For example, the Organization Profiles Module and PersonalProfiles Module can be utilized to create a page that is designed formedia applications and allows a member of the media to maintain aprofile view of organizations and other tradeshow participants. Suchprofiles include information such as the best time and method to contactthe reporter, communications preferences, etc. That information can beused and re-used every time a press member applies to a tradeshow viathe Media Credentialing Module, which simplifies the process and savesthe reporter time.

Because the Gateway can receive content feeds from major publisher andanalyst organizations, the Media Credentialing Module can find areporter's article history and perform keyword search analysis todetermine if that reporter has previously written articles that areappropriate for the tradeshow's main topic areas. Similarly, the MediaCredentialing Module can use the Gateway's functionality to analyzebooks and other content areas to find content that the reporter hasproduced that is applicable to the tradeshow. The Media CredentialingModule utilizes analytics software to analyze and extract informationfrom articles, books, and other content a specific reporter hasproduced.

The Media Credentialing Module includes “entity extraction”functionality to derives the names of people, companies, places, datesand times, and other entities; “relationship extraction” functionalityto determine the relationships between entities, such as which theorganization for whom a person works; “sentiment analysis” functionalityto determine the a specific reporter's attitude toward a topic or entity(positive, negative, or neutral); “summarization” functionality tocreates summaries for each article, book, and other documents authoredby a specific reporter; and “topic extraction” functionality todetermine what topics are actually discussed in the text of thosedocuments. The Media Credentialing Module's “topic extraction”functionality is also known as “thematic extraction” or “conceptextraction.” These functionalities of the Media Credentialing Module canbe applied to the large corpus of articles gathered from the Internet bythe Gateway's spider engine to identify and organize those articlesbased on relevance to a topic and the author's attitude toward thattopic, providing a summary of each article. Accordingly, the MediaCredentialing Module makes it easier for an organization to identifythose reporters the organization wants to invite to a trade show. Suchfunctionality can be utilized, for example, before Steps 4 and 5 of theexemplary workflow provided above.

For event organizers, the Media Credentialing Module providesfunctionality for a party organizing a trade show to provide a set ofexample documents that the organizer feels best represents the topics oftheir event. The Media Credentialing Module performs topic extraction onthose documents and then uses those topics to identify and organizearticles as described. The relevancy score for each article willtherefore be based on how close the topic of each retrieved article isto the topic of the articles provided by the organization. Keywords andthe names of an organization's sponsor/exhibitor companies andsponsor/exhibitor's products can also be utilized to determine anarticle's relevance. The Media Credentialing Module also includesfunctionality for using the same analytics software on the eventorganizer's website to properly categorize the keyword content of theorganizer's site so the event organizer can further optimize thematching of the media to the event.

Utilizing the Gateway's workflow and notification functionalities, theMedia Credentialing Module allows for automated and manualback-and-forth communications with all participants. The MediaCredentialing Module can replace fax, telephone, overnight express, andother communications means with an e-mail-driven, web-based applicationdesigned specifically for media credentialing. By providing a processthat is used by many tradeshow organizers, reporters experience aconsistent interface that allows them to establish a media profile,update it easily over time, and use it to apply quickly for manydifferent shows. The Media Credentialing Module enables an ongoingrelationship between the tradeshow organizers and the members of themedia by automatically contacting members of the media on a regularbasis, for example, via e-mail every 90 days, to ask those members ofthe media to update and/or confirm their media profile information.

Because the Gateway's export engine supports many types of data formats,a tradeshow organizer can use the Media Credentialing Module to exportresults from the credentialing process into substantially any eventregistration system. The Media Credentialing Module provides a front-endvalidation/acceptance process for any event's registration process.Although the Media Credentialing Module is not intended as a replacementfor event registration software, it can apply e-commerce (a charge viacredit cards) to any part of the process. While fees are not typicallyinvolved in the media credentialing process, the module does have thecapability to apply fees if desired, either before an application issubmitted, or after an application is accepted and approved. The MediaCredentialing Module can also be slotted in-process of the registrationengine, taking information entered into the registration process,performing analysis on that reporter's information, and then handing theresults back to the registration process.

The Media Credentialing module also provides functionality for atradeshow's organizer to set up rules that govern automaticcredentialing. Those Rules can include any or all of the following:

-   -   58. Third Party Credentials: An organization external to the        tradeshow organizer provides press accreditation for the        individuals who apply to the show. The third party typically has        its own methods for establishing credentials, and is known as a        trusted source.    -   59. Article Coverage: The Gateway analyzes articles written by        the applicant within a specified period prior to the current        date and checks the relevancy of those articles to the topics        covered by the tradeshow.    -   60. Prior Credentials: When an applicant has received press        credentials in a previous media credentialing process via the        Media Credentialing Module and has not changed their media        affiliations, they can be automatically granted credentials for        the current process.    -   61. Manual Review: The tradeshow organizer can require that all        applicants receive a manual review by the administrator after        the automated rules are applied, as a final check.

Accordingly, the Media Credentialing Module can be configured to handlemany variations of the credentialing process. For example, preferencescan be set to either allow the organizer to manually review and approveapplications, or to let the system automatically certify members of themedia based on set rules. The Preferences settings can also be set toauto-credential selected specific people, publications, or companies.Preference settings within the Media Credentialing Module control thelook and feel of the module, the text used on pages, dates andschedules, design of the forms, and many other things.

The Media Credentialing Module facilitates bidirectional,relationship-oriented communication between tradeshow organizer's andmembers of the media. Before the tradeshow, the Media CredentialingModule simplifies and optimizes the process of submitting an application(for the member of the media) and evaluating and approving anapplication (for the organizer). During the show, the module can be usedto track the articles created by the members of the media attending theshow in real time. The Media Credentialing Module can also be used as arepository of reporter contact information. After the show, the modulecan be used as a tool for evaluating and tabulating show coverage by themedia. Accordingly, the Media Credentialing Module also creates a longterm view of reporter engagement with the tradeshow community so showorganizers can make decisions for subsequent tradeshows based on thecoverage at each prior tradeshow. The Media Credentialing Moduleincludes a “Reports” area for gathering, viewing, and tracking suchinformation in a central location. The Media Credentialing Module canalso link to publications and other data of analyst firms andorganizations stored on the Gateway's Database(s) 116 using Meta Datafields that include, for example, a byline or author information thathelp facilitate the match and keyword analysis of the module.

The Media Credentialing Module includes functionality for groupingparticipants into applicant classes and applying different rules forcredentialing different applicant classes. For example, TV/Radioapplicants might have to submit video or audio samples, whereas bloggersmight submit online hyperlinked samples. For each applicant class, theadministrator can define the name for the class, the type of specificdocumentation required, how much of each documentation is required, andthe nature of the class type. Each of those identifiers may be based,for example, on whether each applicant is aReporter/Editor/Journalist/Blogger, Analyst/Consultant, FreelanceJournalist, or Broadcast TV/Radio/Internet (Podcast/Webcast).

The user interface of the Media Credentialing Module for participatingusers provides functionality for a participating user to enter his/herinformation and upload his/her application. The participating userinterface can be provided as a standalone web-based process, integratedwith the main Gateway, or intermeshed with the event organizer'swebsite. In all instances, the Media Credentialing workflowadministrator can adjust Help text, add FAQs, change the look and feelof the participating user interfaces, and adjust the process settings inorder to customize the participating user interface. On entering theparticipating user interface, the participating user will be asked tolog in and to confirm his/her organizational and personal profileinformation before being presented with the appropriate steps for thecorresponding stage of the Media Credentialing process. Theparticipating user interface will present different steps to users atdifferent times during the schedules pertinent to the workflow process,only showing the participating user those screens that are pertinent tothat user at that time.

A further example of use of the workflow engine of the present inventionwith respect to a tradeshow is the Events Relations Module. The EventRelations Module provides key external relationship management forevents organizers and internal events coordinators. The Event RelationsModule can, for example, be used to coordinate a Call for Papers/Callfor Speakers process wherein companies and contacts are invited tosubmit their ideas for papers and speaker slots at an event. The EventsRelations Module provides functionality for users to review submittedideas, rate and decide upon those ideas, and automatically create anevent agenda comprised of the accepted ideas. All suggesting users arenotified by the Events Relations Module as to the acceptance or denialof their suggestions in the same way that reporters are alerted via theMedia Credentialing Module. The Events Relations Module also providesfunctionality for users to group ideas by category or to track, create,and export reports showing all accepted ideas. Using such a workflow, auser can easily gather information required for the user's eventmaterials through the workflow of this module. By listing the user'sspeakers/paper presenters, the user can, in one place, communicate withand download voluminous profile, bio, logo, picture, and otherinformation that the user needs to populate the user's event website anddocumentation. The Event Relations Module also supports full e-commercecapabilities for accepting credit cards and invoicing users for activityas defined in Preferences by the Gateway account workflow administrator.

The Event Relations Module provides functionality for users to createlistings of exhibitors at an event. By listing the user's exhibitors inthe Gateway, the user makes it easy to communicate with and gatherprofile, logo, representative, and other information to drive eventdirectories, website content, and other marketing information. Such alisting can also be referenced by other Gateway modules for accessrights and pricing discounts, such as for Awards Module processes whereonly exhibitors are allowed to enter or where exhibitors are given a 50%discount on the participation fee.

The Gateway can be enhanced to also facilitate the entire process ofmanaging the effort of setting up meetings between the press andexecutives at tradeshows with the Event Relations Module. The EventRelations Module facilitates all back and forth communications to aidthe user in achieving a successful event. And, with the workflow engine,a user can create a customized workflow to facilitate the entire processof managing the effort of, for example, setting up meetings between thepress and executives at tradeshows.

In many cases, tradeshows are an ideal location for meetings to takeplace between tradeshow participants, analysts, and journalists.Scheduling such a meeting can, however, prove to be difficult. Before atradeshow, it is typical for people to attempt to contact the reportersand editors that are going to the tradeshow to arrange meetings withtheir executives. It is time consuming and a real challenge, however, tobalance everyone's schedules. During the show, there are often changesto schedules that have to be accommodated and, thus, a need to contactthose who are scheduled to attend changed meetings. Simple messages andinquires, such as “I'm running late.” or “Where is the user's booth, Icannot find it.”, can be difficult to communicate effectively.

Accordingly, the Event Relations Module also provides functionality forusers to set such meetings up and to have synchronization between theGateway of the present invention and a meeting participant's calendarprograms, e.g., MS OUTLOOK brand calendar program, in order to keep thetwo in sync for all meeting participants. The Event Relations Moduleutilizes the Alerts Module to inform people via, for example, SMS, ofupcoming meetings and to provide functionality to send information backand forth between the meeting coordinators and meeting participants.

At the earliest stage of the process, tradeshow vendors typically blockout a time in which meetings will occur. They then ask journalists enmasse if they would like to meet. They may invite a select group first,get them on board, and then invite more to fill vacancies in theschedule. Note that there might be several tracks of meetings to beplanned, e.g., they might have three conference rooms in their boothplus a suite, for which to plan meetings. They might also decide to planmeetings around a person or a place, and perhaps both. On the recipientside, industry analysts and other interested parties receive all theserequests but really do not have a good way to manage them all. He/sheaccepts or rejects them and then negotiates a time that he will beavailable to meet.

The Event Relations Module therefore functions as a “middle man” to helpcoordinate all of the meeting activities and frequent meeting updatesthat usually are required. The Event Relations Module provides for thereal-time coordination of schedules. Also, the Event Relations Moduleprovides functionality to account for transit time between the meetingplaces. For example, at some tradeshow locations, it takes as long as 20minutes or more to walk from one meeting location to another. The EventRelations Module provides functionality for each meeting to have anupdateable “profile” which takes into account such things as the meetinglocation and the expected travel time between meeting locations forparticular meeting participants. Because each meeting participant isbeing “tracked” by the Event Relations Module, the Event RelationsModule can send messages to each participant via, for example their PDA,to remind them of the meeting and the suggested time that they shoulddepart from their current meeting location to arrive at the next meetinglocation on time. Also, the Event Relations Module providesfunctionality to create a central messaging board with similarinformation for the convenience of those who do not have a way ofreceiving such messages remotely.

The Event Relations Module also provides functionality for meetingcoordinators and schedulers to put people into groups of prioritization.For example, if an organization really wants to have particular analystsmeet with them, those analysts are assigned priority one while otheranalysts are assigned priority two, etc. The organization may onlyinvite the priority one analysts to a meeting first before inviting thepriority two analysts, etc. Often, a specific analyst is not going tothe show, but would want another analyst to go in their place, or toschedule a post-show or pre-show briefing via telephone or the Gatewayof the present invention. Thus, the Event Relations Module also providesfunctionality to schedule pre-show and post-show meetings.

A further example of use of the workflow engine of the present inventionis the Awards Module. The Awards Module was specifically designed tosupport event organizers, awards organizers, associations, andpublishers who need to have a full end-to-end workflow to support thecreation, nomination to, judging, award, and presentation of awards. TheAwards Module supports all the e-commerce of the nomination process,supporting online forms and credit card/invoicing interfaces to access anomination application and application fee. The module supports thecommunication with potential judges and assignment of judges tocategories. It enables award administrators to centrally view the statusof nominees, judges, and other key personnel as they interface with theGateway. The user can use system e-mails or create their own to guidethe nominees and judges through the awards process. Single andmulti-stage (semi-finalist, finalist, winner) judging processes aresupported by the Awards Module. On-line rating forms are provided toenable judges to enter information directly into the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116 from anywhere in the world at any time. Where goods arebeing shipped to the judging entity for review, the Awards Moduleutilizes electronic shipping forms to track the receipt and return ofproducts and services being submitted for judging. The results of theawards process can be loaded onto websites as well as downloaded for usein other systems. Information, such as nominees, categories, judges,process dates, etc., can be auto-published to the user's website, thusproviding the user with a content management solution as well as anawards workflow process for transferring information back and forth withthose involved in the awards process. The Awards Module provideseveryone involved in the awards process with a streamlined, trackable,and reliable interface for all tasks associated with naming winners inawards categories.

The Awards Module also simplifies the process of having sponsors takepart in the Awards program. Upon creating a workflow, the Awards Moduleprovides the Awards workflow administrator with an onscreen hyperlinkfor a participating user interface specialized for sponsors, wherein,after logging in, the sponsor can prepay for awards entry submissions,purchase available sponsor rights, or perform other sponsor duties.

The first step in the awards process is to create the award group withinthe Awards Module. The award group is defined with a description andvarious pertinent preferences. If there is just one award, then theaward group and award are the same. If not, there may be a number ofawards under an overall award group.

The next step is to create the individual awards in the group. This islike creating a schema for a directory with each node representing anaward. Judges and nominees will be linked to each award. This createsthe judging relationship for each award. There may also be awards thatare based on other awards, e.g., “Best in Show” might be a nominee groupmade up of the winners of all sub-categories and “All of Show” might bea nominee group made up of all participants, regardless of the categoryin which they are entered, such as “Best Newcomer” or “Most Spirited”.

The next step is to enter the contacts for the awards. There are twogroups of contacts for each award: Judges and Nominees. The nomineeswill either go through a formal entry process in the Awards Module,which might or might not have a payment obligation for submission, or beentered into the Awards Module by the award administrator. Nominees maybe nominated for one or multiple awards. Judges are invited to be judgesand are assigned to their judging categories in one of two ways: theyrequest certain categories by selecting them in order of preferencewithin the Awards Module; or they are put in categories in the AwardsModule by the award administrator. Judges must confirm they willparticipate within the Awards Module. There may be two levels of judges:one level to narrow the nominees down to semifinalists; and one level tovote on the finalists. The Awards Module also provides the awardadministrator with functionality to view the progress of the awardsprocess at any time via a contacts status page. The administrator mayalso sort through the awards process information in columned lists. TheAwards Module also provides a contacts page that lists the companies andtheir respective contact type, e.g., judge, nominee, sponsor, forcompanies participating in the awards process.

The underlying categories for an awards program must be created in theAssignments area of the Awards Module. In the Assignments area,functionality is provided for the workflow administrator to create,edit, and assign award entries; assign judges; and otherwise manage thecategories of an awards program. If not enough entrants are in multiplecategories, those categories may be merged in the Assignments area. Eachcategory's preferences are managed in the Assignments area.

Where judges and/or nominees must fill out forms in the Awards Module toregister, the Surveys Module can be used to create those forms. Theremay be multiple forms that might be created and associated with eachaward. The Awards Module also includes process forms for shipping,receiving, and for additional, optional surveys of nominees. There arealso specialty forms formatted for small screens (e.g., PDAs, cellphones) for judging when on a show floor or in the outdoors.

The Awards Module provides judges with the ability to designate how theywould like to receive the items to be judged where something other thanweb-based publication is being judged. For example, if the judges arejudging software, the software could be sent via electronic download orCD Rom. Some organizations may allow each individual judge to decidewhether he/she would like to receive all the documentation. Someorganizations may provide instructions for how to open an account toaccess the item to be judged. Thus, once the awards process has begun,the parties whose products or services are being judged will be asked toregister with the Gateway and to fill out a form in the Awards Modulethat specifies how each party wishes to make its product available forjudging. Likely, organizations will request a meeting and suggest sometimes to meet. This time could be agreed upon and the judge can have anonline representation of his scheduled meetings via the Awards Module.The main interface of communications over the Awards Module is e-mail.The workflow administrator has the ability to hide all identifyingfields from a nomination to allow for “blind judging” in which the judgemakes a determination about an entry based solely on the shown fields.For example, a small studio art quilt association might want the judgesto not know who submitted an image for judging due to friendships thatmight affect judging. With such blind judging, all the judges see is thepicture of the quilt with the score questions below.

The Awards Module supports a number of specialized communicationsprocesses in the course of affecting the workflow. Should a judgeencounter an issue with judging a particular nomination, the judge cansubmit a problem report that initiates a process wherein all the otherjudges are sent communications asking them to review the nomination withthe judge's complaint in mind, and to decide if the nomination needs tobe moved or disqualified. After all the judges have voted, the workflowadministrator decides what to do, and has an array of supporting optionsthat all involve automatic communications with the judges and theaffected nominee.

Another example of a specialized process provided within the AwardsModule is the ability to automatically handle late entrants. Users whotry to join an awards process after the deadline can request anextension and, depending on the workflow's Preferences settings, get anautomatic 24-hour extension or get a form to send an e-mail requestingan extension. The Awards Module will then send the workflowadministrator a communication to this effect and the workflowadministrator can enter a simple process for letting the late entranthave an extension or denying the late entry.

Yet another example of a specialized process provided within the AwardsModule is the ability to make available for downloading the images ofthe Winner, e.g., a Winner's Logo to go on a website, and to applye-commerce to that process, e.g., if there are additional fees fordownloading the logos. The participating user interfaces are outfittedwith a step that only appears at the right time (post-announcement ofwinners), to the right people (winners), and shows the right logospertinent to the right participants (the Audio logo to the winner of theAudio Category).

And another example of a specialized process within the Awards Module isthe ability to manage the signing up for, and distribution of, speakingslots to winners. Often, the winners of awards programs are allowedspeaking slots at a conference or awards banquet. Such speaking slotsentail an entire process of assigning speaking slots to nominees.Accordingly, the Awards Module automates the assigning process byprompting winners to re-enter the participating user interface to selectamong available speaking slots on-stage. When done, that user receives aconfirmation e-mail and onscreen notice via the Gateway. When all of thespeaking slots are filled, the workflow administrator is provided with alisting of speaking slots and who's speaking, including each speaker'scontact information.

The Member Relations Module provides association, forum, and othermember-driven organizations with functionality to gather and maintaininformation from their membership. Items like logos, organizationinformation, bios, tradeshow representatives, PR representatives, andother organization-specific pieces of information are verytime-consuming for membership managers to track. The Member RelationsModule provides a streamlined workflow that is integrated throughout theGateway to pull out specific roles and responsibilities and push/pullcorporate data to/from membership organizations that need/have thatdata. Associations and forums can set up classification systems andother data gathering structures in the Gateway and receive thatinformation in the form of pre-formatted HTML, XML streams, text data,or any of a number of other formats to drive their own systems andprocesses. The Member Relations Module solves the problems oforganizations that need to gather data and organizations that want tocontrol the positioning of that data.

The Member Relations Module also provides functionality for workflowadministrators to maintain a listing of all of an organization'smembers, including each member's membership level in the organization.That listing can also be maintained by direct feeds into the Gatewayfrom an organization's membership registration system databases. Bylisting the organization's members in the Gateway, the organizationmakes it easy to communicate with and gather profile, logo,representative, and other information to drive association directories,website content, and other marketing information. That listing can alsobe referenced by other Gateway modules for access rights and pricingdiscounts, such as for awards processes where only organization membersare allowed to enter or where members are given a 50% discount on theparticipation fee.

The Legal Relations Module provides organizations with an end-to-endmeans to manage the process of entering into, storing, and updatingmarketing-related legal agreements, such as Non-Disclosure Agreements(NDAs). NDAs are routine in marketing discussions. However, the processof tracking which agreements are in place, when they expire, who signedthem, etc., is anything but routine in most organizations. For the mostpart, NDAs are signed, filed, and forgotten about until they arereferenced for a legal reason. But, by then, it is often too late to doanything about any problems within the agreement itself. Accordingly,the Legal Relations Module provides the user with an infrastructure totrack all the user's outstanding NDAs and other legal documents andprovides a mechanism for updating these agreements when they expire orwhen the user needs to insert new content. As organizations, personnel,and processes change, it is easy for required changes and updates to goundone, yet it is very important in protecting the legal interests ofthe user's organization to make such changes and updates. Accordingly,the Legal Relations Module provides a central access point formulti-user workflows that can include all the necessary parties forexecuting such agreements. With the addition of electronic signatures,those on-line documents can, in many cases, replace the popular faxmachine in executing such documents.

The Legal Relations Module also provides functionality for organizationsto upload documents with embedded variables that enable a workflowadministrator to establish simple forms to drive information intocomplex documents and to initiate a review and approval process for thatdocument. The Preference Area enables users to designate defaults forkey variables, such as length of term, expiration date, and internalsignatory contact. Executed documents are sent to all signing parties(more than two parties can sign an agreement).

The Prospects Module is a sales tracking module that providesfunctionality for marketers to research customer databases from withinthe Gateway and then action against those databases with marketing andsales campaigns. Designed to complement sales tools available in theprior art, the Prospects Module helps track Gateway-specific customerdata so that the user can initiate sales and marketing activities basedaround actual actions within the Gateway's processes. For example, allnew participants in a Buyer's Guide workflow might receive an emailprompting them to sign up for the organization's Directory workflow. Newprospects and existing customers can be loaded into the module tofacilitate all forms of research and campaigns. Prospect lists can beaccessed by the various other Gateway modules so the user can invitecustomers to join the user's classification system or send surveys tothem. What differentiates the Prospects Module from other customerrelationship management (CRM) products on the market is the integrationdeep in the Gateway's processes.

The Market Presence Module provides functionality for an organization toanalyze its current corporate and/or product positioning, i.e., their“presence”, on the web. The Market Presence Module draws informationfrom many different areas of the Gateway, including saved searches,retrievers, and organization directories. The Market Presence Moduleconsolidates all of the information in the system into adashboard-driven, user configurable view of market presence. Examples ofthis functionality include incorrect or inconsistent representations ofthe organization's information, executives, and products; lack ofrepresentation on websites where the organization's competition islisted; and lack of accuracy in representing merged, acquired, orrenamed organizations. The Market Presence Module uses the Gateway'ssophisticated retriever engine to analyze key indicators of theorganization's market presence, from the number of articles found invarious sites to the comparative listings in directories and membershiplistings in associations and forums. The Market Presence Module givesthe user a summary of the user's success and failures in maintaining theuser's information across the Internet. The Market Presence Moduleenables comparisons to direct competitors and analysis based on specificpublications/analyst firms/other organizations, specific analysts orreporters, or specific roles. For example, within the Market PresenceModule, a user can view which reporters wrote the most about the user'scompetitors relative to the user's own firm.

The Buyer's Guides Module provides research functionality that coversthe end-to-end process for gathering a large amount of discreteinformation from many information sources. The module supports theprocess for getting information in from those sources as well as theentire testing and review process for organizations that receive productor services for testing, and need to rate those products. The moduleenables tracking of each participant through the process and stores theentire communications history between the user and participant. As withall workflows, the communications history records whether or not thesystem has determined if an e-mail has been received by the destinatione-mail server and if that server has indicated that the user has openedthe e-mail.

Acquisitions surveys enable the user to gather initial data about eachproduct from the vendors should the administrator wish to pre-screen allentrants and deny access to those deemed not worthy of taking part.Preview comments surveys help the administrator gather initial commentson the proposed feature survey to be issued, before it is actuallyissued. Feature surveys help the administrator gather and confirmdetailed product level information. Electronic shipping forms enable theadministrator to electronically track receipt and shipping of items.Rating forms allow an organization's internal and external testers tolog in and record results. Data can be auto-published to matrices andtables on websites, or downloaded in XML and other formats. Electronicsurvey creation tools provided in the Buyer's Guides Module enable theadministrator to create and edit the forms into which data is enteredand validated. A wide variety of question types, including phone, URL,date, rating, and table listing are available. The Buyer's Guides can beleft “open” to allow for ongoing data updating by users who have beengiven access to the Buyer's Guide. The Buyer's Guides Module provides anend-to-end workflow that can reduce the time required for custom productresearch down from weeks and months to just days. As with otherworkflows, e-commerce can be supported throughout the process.

The Buyer's Guide workflow process can interlink with an organization'scentral product repository in the Products Module of the Gateway. When auser goes to enter a new product, the user is queried whether he/shewishes to build a new product record from scratch or to build it from anexisting product already in the Gateway's Database(s) 116. Similarly,when the user saves changes to a product form, the user is queriedwhether he/she wishes to make the same changes in the central productrepository. This functionality helps a user make use of an existingwealth of information in the Gateway, which makes the task of respondingto Buyer's Guides more efficient. The Buyer's Guide workflow processsupports collecting data about people, companies, products and more.Uploaded information can be categorized against a directory associatedwith the specific Buyer's Guide workflow.

The Surveys Module provides users with an electronic survey tool that isdesigned for one-time and scheduled repetitive surveying of, forexample, customers, vendors and service providers. A broad range ofquestion types enables a user to very specifically gather and validatedata for the user's research needs. For example, the user can accesslistings of organizations and individuals from within the user's MyContacts Module, by linking to specific groupings of organizations basedon the user's classifications, or by importing the user's own contactlists. The user can track all communications with the user's researchtargets and know who has completed surveys and who has not. The user cansearch the user's communications history in the Messaging Module to makesure e-mails were sent to all of the research targets. The user can usesystem generated e-mails, or create the user's own. The user can publishresults to the user's website or download them via a list of outputoptions. The Surveys Module tightly integrates with the Gateway's othermodules to give the user a very powerful on-line research tool that cancontinually produce results for the user's organization.

The Survey Module also provides functionality to perform repetitivesurveys of the same population group on a regular basis. For example, apublication's workflow administrator can query 100 top decision-makersabout their confidence in the industry, once a month, and automaticallytrack this graphically from month to month. Each month, the survey toolcan send out e-mail requests for the 100 decision-makers to respond towith their scores for confidence, and then tabulate the responses andauto-publish the results to the publication's website using thePresentations Module and External Hosts Module. Decision-makers who falloff in their responses can be sent different e-mails from those whoregularly participate and the workflow administrator can get a report onparticipation and results after each cycle.

The Gateway Directories Module provides functionality for a user tocreate and maintain a hierarchical categorization system to segregateand structure Gateway content with greater ease. The Gateway DirectoriesModule is preferably used to create directories of content in theGateway that are categorized around some schema. Thus, white papersmight be uploaded into a white paper listing site with sections bytopic, and organization profiles might be uploaded to a directory ofcompanies. Using the Gateway Directories Module, a user can organize howhis/her own Gateway content as well as other Gateway content ispresented by the Gateway to that user based on the hierarchicalcategorization of different types of data. Accordingly, the GatewayDirectories Module enables the user to create the user's own unique,prioritized view of the user's world as presented to the user by theGateway at the Presentation Layer 206. And, by classifying the user'sown content based on the type of data, the Gateway Directories Modulealso enables the user to control how that user's content is presented toother users throughout the Gateway. For example, if the user createslists of organizations for presentation on the user's Gateway based onthose organizations' segment in an industry, organizations will be addedor deleted from those lists automatically as the organizations join orleave each listed segment of industry. And, in conjunction with theAlerts Module, the Gateway Directories Module can also send alerts tothe user of such changes and even send alerts to the organizations whenthose organizations are added or deleted from users' lists.

The Gateway Directories Module also provides functionality for users tocreate nodes within each directory to establish Preferences, such as thetype of content being collected in that directory and what eligible datacan be entered at each node, e.g., only events organizers can listthemselves in the event organizer node. Preferences for e-commerce feesare also established by the workflow administrator. As with the Buyer'sGuide workflow process, as users create new content in the directory,they are prompted if they want to upload/update their central contentrepository. And, when creating a new entry, users have the option oflinking to existing content and applying it to the workflow so thatsubsequent changes to the central content repository will flow throughto those records.

The User Tasks Module provides users with functionality to track tasksthat a user is responsible for completing. The User Tasks Moduleprovides functionality to create, assign and track tasks from within theGateway. In conjunction with the Notifications Module, the User TasksModule can provide users with notifications as tasks become due. Userscan also use the User Tasks Module to set up their own “Tasks Groups”and add team members into the group that will also receive notificationsas tasks become due.

The Challenge/Response Module provides functionality for users toparticipate in an ongoing, stored onscreen discussion or to describeinformation displayed by a user in more detail. Using theChallenge/Response Module, users can engage in an onscreen discussion,or chat, whereby the contents of that discussion are stored anddisplayed on the Gateway so that other users can read and participate inthat discussion on an ongoing basis. Or, an organization might add anadditional layer of information to information displayed on the Gateway,such as by adding the comment “This feature will be available in Spring2010” to a cell of information that says “Not Available”. TheChallenge/Response Module overlays the workflow engine and isappropriate to workflows with publicly displayed information that havethe potential to be debated, such as product specifications in a Buyer'sGuide or organization profile statistics in a directory.

Suggestions Section

The Suggestions Section of the Gateway provides users with a means tointeract with the Gateway Provider and with other Gateway users toprovide feedback and recommendations regarding the Gateway. A user cansuggest that Sellers or Influencers be added to the Gateway, report bugsand feature ideas, and invite other people to join the user in theGateway. The Suggestions Section's functionality is integratedthroughout the Gateway, showing up in context where suggestions andinvitations are most often used. The modules that provide suchfunctionality include an Invitations Module, a Suggest-A-Seller Module,a Suggest-An-Influencer Module, a Suggest-A-Feature Module, a SuggestContent Module, a Report-A-Bug Module, a Report-A-Database ProblemModule, and a Recommend-The-Toolbar Module.

The Invitations Module provides functionality for a user to easilyinvite a partner, employee, contractor or anyone else to log in andbecome part of the user's Gateway experience. For example, PR firms canuse the functionality to get clients to register for the first time.And, influencers can use the functionality to alert PR representativesthat they should join the Gateway. The Invitations Module also providesfunctionality for the user to enter the user's own personalized messageto invitees and provides a preformatted set of instructions generated bythe Gateway's messaging engine for invitees to use to register with theGateway. The Invitations Module will then cause the notifications engineto send an e-mail message to the invitee listed. Accordingly, theInvitations Module provides an easy, systematic way to get other peopleinto the Gateway that the user needs to complete tasks within theGateway.

The Suggest-A-Seller Module provides functionality for a user to suggestthat a Seller be added to the Gateway. Upon filling in the relevantinformation, the Suggest-A-Seller Module causes that information to besent to the Gateway's import/export engine, where the Seller's name andURL are evaluated relative to existing records on the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116 and updated/added accordingly, with manual review by theGateway's processing representatives if necessary. Once added to theGateway's Database(s) 116, the user is notified that the record is readyto be utilized in completing the user's task. Such functionality can beused, for example, by Influencers who wish to include a Seller within abody of research and find that the Seller is not yet using the Gateway.And, after the relevant information has been uploaded to the Gateway'sDatabase(s) 116, the Seller is given the opportunity to update thatinformation when the Seller registers with the Gateway. If the Seller isalready registered with the Gateway, the Seller will be given theopportunity to update that information the next time one of the Seller'sauthorized representatives logs onto the Gateway. ASuggest-An-Influencer module provides substantially identicalfunctionality for suggesting that certain Influencers be added to theGateway.

The Suggest-A-Feature Module provides functionality for users to requestthat of certain features/functionality be added to enhance the Gateway.The architecture of the Gateway is sufficiently flexible that it can beeasily changed as necessary to respond to such user requests.Accordingly, the Gateway may be driven by user-suggested improvements.Suggested features are entered as Tasks in the Gateway Tasks Module forconsideration by the Gateway's marketing and development personnel.

The Suggest Content Module provides functionality for users to requestthat certain content be added to the Gateway's Database(s) 116 so thatthe information may be linked by other users to those users' websites ormyGateway desktop environments. The Gateway's spider engine can beprogrammed by Gateway Provider Administrators to retrieve and tracksubstantially any data a user requests. For example, an event organizercan suggest that his/her event be added to the Gateway's Database(s) 116and tracked by the spider engine.

The Suggest Content Module provides functionality for users to requestthat certain content be added to the Gateway's Database(s) 116 so thatthe information may be linked by other users to those users' websites ormyGateway desktop environments. The Gateway's spider engine can beprogrammed by Gateway Provider Administrators to retrieve and tracksubstantially any data a user requests. For example, an event organizercan suggest that his/her event be added to the Gateway's Database(s) 116and tracked by the spider engine.

The Report-A-Database Problem Module provides functionality for users toreport duplicate listings in the Gateway's Database(s) 116 not resolvedby other modules in the Suggestions Section. The Report-A-DatabaseProblem Module also provides functionality for users to identify anyother problems with the Gateway's Database(s) 116. Accordingly,Report-A-Database Problem Module serves as a catch-all for problems thatare not handled in the other modules in the Suggestions Section.

The Recommend-The-Toolbar Module provides functionality for users toeasily invite someone else to download the Internet Explorer GatewayToolbar Module, which is described in more detail below. To recommendthat a party install the toolbar with the Recommend-The-Toolbar Module,users merely enter the name and e-mail address of the invitee and theGateway's messaging engine and notifications engine generate and send,respectively, a preformatted e-mail to the invitee to recommend that theinvitee install the toolbar. Such preformatted e-mails are defined by aGateway Provider Administrator within the messaging engine. TheRecommend-The-Toolbar also provides functionality for a user to add apersonalized message to the e-mail if the user wishes.

Setup Section

The Setup Section of the Gateway enables users to personalize theirexperience within the Gateway by setting personal preferences. Forexample, users can set up their own ID and password, manage theirnotifications, and determine what information is displayed about theuser throughout the Gateway. The modules that provide such functionalityinclude a Personal Profiles Module, a User ID/Password Module, aNotifications/Alerts Preferences Module, a Responders Module, aSynchronizations Module, a Tools Preferences Module, and an IdentitiesModule. Preferences can also be set for individual Gateway modules in“Preference Areas” within those modules.

The Personal Profiles Module provides functionality for each user tocustomize the information they wish to release publicly, and in variousspecific instances. People tend to have different information they arewilling to share with others. Much personal information is kept privateand confidential, e.g. as cell phone numbers or home phone numbers. ForPR departments, however, giving out certain personal information isroutinely expected in their deadline-oriented environment. Suchinformation includes key contact information, bios, communicationspreferences, addresses, and even pictures of the person. Using thePersonal Profiles Module, a user can establish their Private Profile(used by the Gateway Provider and customer support to communicate withthe user), Public Profile (generally viewed by any user of the Gateway),and Media Profile (specific to Influencers and used by media informationdistribution companies to educate media relations groups about how tocontact the user). Accordingly, the Personal Profiles Module providesusers with better control over what personal information is disseminatedand to who it is disseminated.

The User ID/Password Module provides functionality for a user to managehis/her own login information after the user registers on the Gateway.Validation functionality, which must be employed if the user loseshis/her user ID or password, is also provided in the User ID/PasswordModule.

The Notifications/Alerts Preferences Module provides functionality for auser to set his/her preferences as to what notifications and alertshe/she receives from the Notifications Module and the Alerts Module,respectively. The Notifications/Alerts Preferences Module also providesfunctionality for a user to set his/her preference as to what means areused to send specific notifications and alerts. For example, a user caninput an e-mail address for a specific notification if he/she desires toreceive that notification by e-mail. Or, a user can put in the telephonenumber of a cell phone to receive an alert or notification by SMS.

The Responders Module provides functionality for users to createauto-responses for inbound e-mails to the user's Gateway e-mail accountin special situations. For example, if a user is going to attend aConsumer Electronics Show (CES), the user can create an e-mail addressin the user's Gateway e-mail account called CES@Gateway.net. And, whenthe user subsequently receives an e-mail from a press person wanting toset up a meeting at the CES, the user can forward that e-mail to theCES@Gateway.net address and have it return an e-mail to the press personwith further instructions as to how to set up meetings with the user.The Responders Module includes functionality to determine theappropriate person(s) to send the return e-mail to based on theforwarded e-mail. The user can also use the Responders Module to tellpeople to take the user off their e-mail lists or that the user's e-mailaddress has changed.

The Synchronizations Module provides functionality for a user tosynchronize data flow back and forth between users and the Gateway. Forexample, using the Synchronizations Module, a user can synchronizeinformation on the Gateway to be automatically sent to his/her PDA, cellphone, Computer-based Calendar, Electronic Notes, and other electronicdatabases on a regular basis, ensuring that the information the user isrelying on from the Gateway is always the most up-to-date

The Tools Preferences Module provides functionality for a user to sethis/her preferences for each of the Gateway's tools provided in theTools Section. The Tools Preferences Module therefore provides a centralaccess point for configuring and storing preferences for each of theGateway's tools, such as the Gateway Internet Explorer Toolbar Module.

The User Types Module provides functionality for a user to maintain theuser's Type setting in the system that governs the configuration of thesystem.

The Setup Identities Module provides functionality for a user to controlhis/her requests to gain access to other organizations' accounts and tomanage their present listing of Identities. Requests for access to otheraccounts is governed by the Administration's Access/Security Module andare approved/denied by each organization's administrator.

Tools Section

The Tools Section of Gateway provides users with software programs thatsupport the Gateway process in a number of ways, whether providingadd-ins for MS brand products, or browser and synchronization supportcapabilities. Because the bulk of the Gateway functionalities areprovided with web browser-based capability, helper applications on thedevices used to access the Internet, such as Computer Work Stations 104,can be used to provide more enhanced Gateway capabilities where the webbrowser does not have that capability. Those helper applications, ortools, are designed to more directly facilitate users' Gatewayexperiences and make those experiences as efficient and contextsensitive as possible. The modules that provide such functionalityinclude an Office Images Add-In Module, an Office Hyperlinks Add-InModule, an Office Dictionary Add-In Module, an Office Gateway FilesAdd-In Tool, an Internet Explorer Gateway Toolbar Module, and a WebConferencing Module.

The Office Images Add-In Module provides users with direct access in theMS OFFICE brand software suite to Gateway image content. Users can, withone mouse click, add a logo or icon to their MS OFFICE brand softwareapplications, such as an MS WORD brand document, an MS POWERPOINT brandpresentation, or an MS EXCEL brand worksheet. Upon launching the modulefrom within an MS application, the user logs into the Gateway and thenenters the relevant search text, then the Gateway will return theresults of the search and the user can click on the desired image and itwill be added to the MS application file in use on the screen.

The Office Hyperlinks Add-In Module provides users with direct access inthe MS OFFICE brand software suite to Gateway hyperlink content. Userscan, with one mouse click, add an organization name and URL to their MSOFFICE brand software applications. The Hyperlinks Add-In Module worksfundamentally the same as the Images Add-In Module.

The Office Dictionary Add-In Module synchronizes the Gateway with acustom dictionary within the MS OFFICE brand software suite to ensuresure that product names, corporate names, executive names, etc., arespelled correctly within the Gateway using the MS spell checking tools.The custom dictionary is merely one of several dictionaries the MSOFFICE brand software suite checks as the user creates the documents.This functionality ensures reliability of references within all of theuser's documents. Accordingly, the Office Dictionary Add-In Moduleprovides a simple, yet automatic benefit from an organization's use ofthe Gateway service that was not previously available.

The Office Gateway Files Add-In Module provides functionality for usersto upload and download documents to and from the MS OFFICE brandsoftware suite to make uploading a new white paper or press release aseasy as entering a “Save” command in one of the application of thesoftware suite. The Office Gateway Files Add-In Module provides ashortcut directly into the Gateway's Database(s) 116 for those purposes.

The Internet Explorer Gateway Toolbar Module combines many of thecapabilities of the Gateway search functionalities with many othersearch engines, such as GOOGLE, YAHOO, AMAZON.COM, EBAY, and WEATHER.COMbrand search engines. By combining all of the capabilities of thosesearch engines, the Internet Explorer Gateway Toolbar Module provides asingle powerful toolbar in the browser window of the device that theuser is using to access the Internet, such as a Computer Work Station104. Accordingly, the Internet Explorer Gateway Toolbar Module providesfunctionality for users to directly search for the same topic acrossmany search engines simultaneously on numerous databases and websites.Users can also quickly find the weather, directions to a location, stockquotes, word spellings, etc., through the capabilities of the InternetExplorer Gateway Toolbar Module. In addition, the Internet ExplorerGateway Toolbar Module includes a Notification Alert Button on thetoolbar that alerts users of the users' tasks that are pending in theGateway. There are customizable buttons in the toolbar and the toolbarcan be privately branded by Influencers for their customer base. TheInternet Explorer Gateway Toolbar Module thereby consolidates the users'most important Gateway research and notifications capabilities in oneplace, and can be a strategic feature for any user. Management of aprivately branded toolbar by a Gateway Account Administrator isperformed in the Administration Section's Toolbar Management Module.

myGateway Section

The myGateway Section is a customized work environment that gives theuser a visual overview of all of that user's associated tasks,notifications, requests, projects, and other system functions, in onecentral location. Information is presented to each user in customizedwidgets so that only that information pertinent to that user isdisplayed. For example, users who do not have authorization to access aspecific Buyer's Guide publication simply would not see that specificpublication in their Buyer's Guide Widget.

The Gateway Desktop is the main page of the myGateway Section andprovides functionality for automatically generating task listings forusers, widgets for summarizing and accessing each major function in theGateway, including the functionality of the Buyer's Guides,Classifications, Search, Retrievers, Surveys, and Messaging Modules,Identities functionality, and help functionality. In the GatewayDesktop, functionality is provided for each individual user to add,remove, or minimize widgets to customize the look of their personalGateway Desktop. The Gateway Desktop provides each user with a dynamicenvironment that automatically updates and changes all of the data auser wishes to track, such as daily tasks, current editorialrelationships, current editorial requests, present projects, systemrequirements, subscriber level, and other key activities. Accordinglythe Gateway Desktop provides a user interface where a user does all ofhis/her marketing work each day in one concentrated, promptedenvironment space. The widgets that provide such functionality include aTasks Widget, a Buyer's Guide Widget, an Awards Widget, a Buyer's GuideAdministration Widget, an Awards Administration Widget, a SurveysWidget, a Directories Widget, a Retrievers Widget, and Events Widget, anEditorial Opportunities Widget, a Messaging Widget, a Search Widget, aSaved Search Widget, and a System Changes Widget.

The Tasks Widget provides a customized listing of actionable hyperlinks,i.e., “On the Desktop” notifications, that, when clicked upon, take theuser to the place where the activity must take place. For example, if auser has not entered a logo for his/her organization, a notificationwould appear in the user's Tasks Widget prompting the user to enter alogo. If the user then clicked on the notification, the Gateway wouldtake the user to the Organization Logos Module where the logo could beuploaded. The Tasks Widget is the user's virtual to-do list each day,and will ensure that the user organization's web presence is maximized.

The Buyer's Guide Widget provides a listing of those Buyer's Guideprocesses in which the user is participating, i.e., those Buyer's Guidesthe user is responding to, and those Buyer's Guides in the user's areaof interest that are open to all Gateway users. Different publicationsand analyst firms use different terms for the content of their productcomparisons: Buyer's Guides, Roundups, Comparative Matrices, SummaryAnalyses, etc. Regardless of the terms used, the Buyer's Guide Widgetprovides functionality to gather all of the relevant information fromthose product comparisons in which the user is participating and provideit in an overview list format customized to each user's participation orarea of interest. The overview list is provided with hyperlinks that auser can click to directly access each of the user's associated Buyer'sGuide records. The Awards Widget provides substantially the samefunctionality for an awards process.

The Buyer's Guide Administration Widget provides functionality for the auser who is managing Buyer's Guides for an organization to gather all ofthe relevant information from those product comparisons the user ismanaging and provide it in an overview list format in the same manner asthe Buyer's Guide Widget. The Buyer's Guide Administration Widget alsoprovides functionality for the user will be view the present aggregatedstatus of each participant in Buyer's Guide process that user ismanaging, from “Invited” to “Completed Buyer's Guide”. The AwardsAdministration Widget provides substantially the same functionality formanaging an awards process.

The Surveys Widget is a listing of the surveys the user is managing,those surveys the user is responding to, and/or those surveys that areopen to all Gateway users and in the user's area of interest, i.e.,those in which the user may consider taking part. The Surveys Widgetshows the user, in an overview format, the user's present status witheach of the listed survey processes, and provides the user withhyperlinks directly into each of the survey records. If the user ismanaging the survey, the user will be shown the present status in his orher survey, from “Invited” to “Completed Survey”.

The Directories Widget is a listing of the classifications that the userhas not yet identified the user's organization with or classificationsthat need attention, either because they have new nodes in theirclassification system or because the user has not checked it for a whileto make sure it is still current. The Directories Widget providesfunctionality for the user to click straight through to the listedclassifications system.

The Retrievers Widget provides the user with the status of all theuser's information retrieving tasks being carried out by the Gateway'sretriever engine, whether the user is searching for books, white papers,events, articles, press releases, webinars, or any of the manyinformation types the Gateway supports. Users can click directly throughto the listed retriever to process records.

The Events Widget gives users insight into upcoming events in their areaof interest and action items for upcoming events, such as speakerinformation due or presentation materials required. The user can seeevents that he/she might want to consider attending, exhibiting at,speaking at, sponsoring, or otherwise becoming involved with. The usercan click straight through to the event to take the action listed or toreview information pertinent to the event.

The Editorial Opportunities Widget provides summarizes for the user ofupcoming editorial opportunities that the user should be aware of,whether it is the opportunity to take part in an article or to submiteditorial content. The Editorial Opportunities Widget lists thepublication and due date for editorial opportunities, and those listingsare hyperlinked to their corresponding more detailed information withinthat publication's editorial calendar listing. Also listed are ad hocreporter inquiries from editors looking for sources, story ideas, casestudies, or other editorial input.

The Messages Widget is the user's Gateway inbox for the user's Gatewaye-mail account. In the inbox, the user can review any messages waitingin their inbox.

The Search Widget is the user's central access point into the Gateway'spowerful search capabilities. In the Search Widget, users are providedwith an open text box and a list of the various search applicationsaccessible through the Gateway.

The Saved Search Widget provides functionality to update a user with thestatus of all his/her information retrievers, such as those set up withthe Search (Saved Search) Module, whether he/she is searching for books,white papers, events, articles, press releases, webinars, or any of themany retriever types the Gateway supports. The Saved Search Widgetprovides an itemized list of the user's Saved Search queries, each ofwhich the user can simply click on to process the found data intohis/her databases.

The System Changes Widget provides functionality to alert users that theGateway has undergone a recent upgrade of which users should be aware.The System Changes Widget provides a list of hyperlinks that users canclick on, by module, to see more detailed descriptions of the newfunctionality.

Support Section

The Support Section of the Gateway is where FAQs, troubleshooting tips,downloads, and other typical support-style functionality is provided.The exemplary Modules described herein are designed around intuitiveprocess flows in the way marketing and research typically is done.However, it is not possible to anticipate every instance. Accordingly,the Support Section includes a Gateway Support FAQ Module, an E-mailTest Module, and a System Changes Module.

The Gateway Support FAQ Module provides functionality for users toobtain online help via online FAQs and online chat session for eachmodule and widget on the Gateway. The Gateway Support FAQ Moduleprovides the user with access to the answers to the most often askedGateway-related questions of users.

The E-mail Test Module includes e-mail test functionality that isdesigned to test the user's e-mail accesses throughout the Gateway. Inlight of the growing use of multiple layers of SPAM protection in manyorganizations, it can be difficult to determine whether messages aregetting through to their intended recipients. With the Gateway e-mailtest capability, the user can send and track a test e-mail throughoutthe Gateway.

The System Changes module provides functionality for users to track themost recent changes to the Gateway's functionality. Because thearchitecture and functionality of the Gateway allow the Gateway to beconstantly improved and new features to be added, the System Changesupdates users of any new functionality within each new software load tothe Gateway. This module is most frequently accessed via the RecentSystem Changes Widget.

The foregoing description and drawings should be considered asillustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention maybe configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not intended to belimited by the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of theinvention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, itis not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosedor the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for measuring one or more first parties' overall influence within a computer network, the apparatus comprising: at least one central database, wherein digital information associated with the one or more first parties is stored; at least one gateway server having a processor configured to execute at least one presentation layer, at least one retrievers module, and at least one market presence module, said at least one presentation layer being configured to receive one or more keywords from a user for use by the retrievers module in identifying content, the one or more keywords being related to content the one or more first parties published on the computer network; said at least one retrievers module being configured to access the computer network and identify content published by one or more second parties, the content published by said one or more second parties being related to the content published by the one or more first parties; and said at least one market presence module being configured to: find content published by the one or more second parties, based on keywords in the content; and determine an amount of reaction to the content published by the one or more first parties, wherein the amount of reaction provides a measure of the one or more first parties' overall influence within the computer network.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the content published by the one or more first parties is a press release; and the one or more second parties are reporters.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor of the at least one gateway server is further configured to execute the at least one market presence module to display the one or more first parties' overall influence within the computer network at a graphical user interface in a hierarchical list.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one retrievers module includes at least one of: an import/export engine configured to import/export data from/to one or more network databases maintained by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and a spider engine configured to spider the computer network for data; wherein the data is related to the keywords.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer network comprises at least one of a local network and the world wide web.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the user is one of the one or more first parties or the one or more second parties; and the content published by the one or more first parties and the content published by the one or more second parties includes web-based media.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said web-based media includes articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and said at least one market presence module is configured to analyze information from the articles, books, and/or other content to determine what topics are actually discussed in those articles, books, and/or other content.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said web-based media includes articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and said at least one market presence module is further configured to analyze and extract information from the articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties and to determine at least one of the one or more first parties' and/or one or more second parties' attitude toward a topic or entity defined by the one or more keywords.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said web-based media includes articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and said at least one market presence module is configured to analyze and extract information from the articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties and to assign a relevancy score to the articles, books, and/or other content based on how relevant the extracted information is to the one or more keywords.
 10. An apparatus for measuring one or more influencers' overall influence within a computer network, the apparatus comprising: at least one central database, wherein digital information associated with the one or more first parties is stored; at least one gateway server having a processor configured to execute at least one presentation layer, at least one retrievers module, and at least one market presence module, said at least one presentation layer being configured to receive one or more keywords from a user for use by the retrievers module in identifying content, the one or more keywords being related to one or more areas of interest to the user; said at least one retrievers module being configured to access the computer network and identify content published by the one or more influencers, the content published by said one or more influencers being related to the one or more areas of interest to the user; and said at least one market presence module being configured to: find content published by the one or more influencers, based on keywords in the content; and track an amount of content published by the one or more influencers, wherein the amount of content published by the one or more influencers provides a measure of the one or more influencers' overall influence with respect to the areas of interest to the user within the computer network.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor of the at least one gateway server is further configured to execute the at least one market presence module to identify a relationship between the content published by the one or more influencers and one or more companies and/or one or more products, the one or more companies and/or one or more products being associated with the area of interest to the user.
 12. A method for measuring one or more first parties' overall influence within a computer network, the method being embodied on a data storage device as at least one presentation layer, at least one retrievers module, and at least one market presence module and comprising the steps of: (a) storing digital information associated with the one or more first parties in at least one central database according to a classification assigned to that data; (b) executing said at least one presentation layer with a processor to receive one or more keywords from a user for use by the retrievers module in identifying content, the one or more keywords being related to content the one or more first parties published on the computer network; (c) executing said at least one retrievers module with the processor to access the computer network and identify content published by one or more second parties, the content published by said one or more second parties being related to the content published by the one or more first parties; and (d) executing said at least one market presence module with the processor to: (i) find content published by the one or more second parties, based on keywords in the content; and (ii) determine an amount of reaction to the content published by the one or more first parties, wherein the amount of reaction provides a measure of the one or more first parties' overall influence within the computer network.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: the content published by the one or more first parties is a press release; and the one or more second parties are reporters.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of executing the at least one market presence module with the processor to display the one or more first parties' overall influence within the computer network at a graphical user interface in a hierarchical list.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein step (c) includes at least one of the following steps: executing an import/export engine configured to import/export data from/to one or more network databases maintained by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and executing a spider engine with the processor to spider the computer network for data; wherein the data is related to the keywords.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer network comprises at least one of a local network and the world wide web.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein: the user is one of the one or more first parties or the one or more second parties; and the content published by the one or more first parties and the content published by the one or more second parties includes web-based media.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein: said web-based media includes articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and said at least one market presence module is configured to analyze information from those articles, books, and/or other content to determine what topics are actually discussed in those articles, books, and/or other content.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein: said web-based media includes articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and said at least one market presence module is further configured to analyze and extract information from the articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties and to determine at least one of the one or more first parties' and/or one or more second parties' attitude toward a topic or entity defined by the one or more keywords.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein: said web-based media includes articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties; and said at least one market presence module is configured to analyze and extract information from the articles, books, and/or other content published by the one or more first parties and/or the one or more second parties and to assign a relevancy score to the articles, books, and/or other content based on how relevant the extracted information is to the one or more keywords. 